Nuclear Security and Strategic Analyses Dr Marko Beljac

Laser Isotope Separation Of Hydrogen And Reactor Grade Plutonium

A point that I have neglected below is of course the issue of Hydrogen isotope separation by laser methods. The SILEX process, as noted, is classified but the following text on Laser Spectroscopy points out that (Radziemsky, Solarz & Paisner Laser Spectroscopy and its Applications, pp422-423),

...the large isotope shifts in the absorption spectra of hydrogen-containing species suggest that hydrogen isotopes should be among the least difficult to enrich by laser methods..an enrichment method based on water would have the advantage of a readily available feedsource. The infrared-ultraviolet dissassociation of water has received some attention (Jensen, 1974), but no one has reported a succesful demonstration...

The Greenpeace report on SILEX was interesting because

...Along with concerns that the Silex technology may contribute to the proliferation of uranium-based threats, are concerns that the technology could also be misused to other, equally dangerous ends. In the lead up to the signing of the US-Australian Silex Agreement, President Bill Clinton gave a speech that drew attention to these alternative uses of the technology. In outlining to the US Congress how non-proliferation measures would be met, Clinton specifically detailed provisions to ensure that the Silex technology would not be used in the US, as part of a military program

Clinton made passing reference to two alternate applications of the Silex technology – firstly, the potential for the technology to be used in the production of tritium and secondly, for its potential use in materials testing...

We know that a nuclear weapon boosted by the production of neutrons by way of fusion reactions based on D-T gas can employ reactor grade plutonium in the fissile core or pit and have the same yield and weight of a similar weapon that employs Pu-239 i.e. weapons grade.

So, successful laser isotopic separation becomes a double whammy. You wouldn't need to enrich uranium. If you have a light water nuclear reactor typical of a nuclear energy programme all you need is a smallish reprocessing capacity to separate reactor grade plutonium. Add in the H2 and H3 separated by laser and hey presto you have the nuclear materials for a boosted fission nuclear weapon; one on a par with the boosted weapons typical of the advanced nuclear weapon states.