Re: MOX Program

["Ron L. Kathren" <rkathren@tricity.wsu.edu>]

Pu-240 is not fissile; it cannot therefore support a chain reaction and
cannot be made into a nuclear explosive.  It is physically impossible to
make a bomb with Pu-240, unless there are some new laws of physics.

Ron Kathren


----- Original Message -----
From: William Prestwich <prestwic@mcmail.cis.McMaster.CA>
To: Multiple recipients of list <radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2000 6:50 AM
Subject: MOX Program


> The MOX program is being criticized as not fulfilling its purpose
> of rendering the fuel unusable for nuclear weapons. The Carson Mark report
> is quoted as stating that any mix of Pu isotopes may be used to make a
> weapon. I know there were excellent postings on this subject-I am sorry to
> say I haven't yet found out about going to the archives. But the above
> statement would imply in the extreme that a weapon could be made using
> pure 240Pu-is that really possible?
> If anyone has the time, could they please enlighten me directly,
> unless they feel their comments are beneficial to the community at large.
> Thanks,
> Bill Prestwich
> McMaster University,
> Hamilton, Ont.
> E-mail: prestwic@mcmaster.ca
>
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