Inverse analysis to deduce information from radioactive waste and shut-down reactors.

This projects seeks to develop advanced algorithms to deduce a maximum of reactor operation and fuel cycle information from the radioactive waste measurement data and samples of structural materials from reactors. Aspects of this work include statistical methods such as Bayesian inference and numerical methods (Monte Carlo and optimization).

(Anti)neutrino detectors.

Various isotopes present in the nuclear fuel waste undergo beta decay. Measuring the resulting antineutrino flux could provide an excellent means for verifying nuclear waste sites declarations. We are investigating the feasibility of using state of the art (anti)neutrino detection technologies, e.g., liquid argon time projection chambers, for verification purposes. This project involves working with an advanced detector simulation and carrying out data analyses for performance evaluations.

Nuclear archaeology indicators.

This work aims at studying which information or indicators different fuel cycles produce that are useful to reconstruct a fissile material production history. It includes information that could be obtained from measurements on radioactive waste or from provided documentation such as original records. The work will require simulating production histories, and understanding how nuclear facilities function.

The nuclear archaeology archive.

This project investigates how extensive documentation (or knowledge) of the nuclear past can be by examining how it was produced and managed. Knowledge production depends on laws, national and facility-specific regulations as well as professional codes of conduct regarding the reporting of activities. Knowledge management encompasses regulations and practices of archiving and preserving knowledge, but also secrecy.