Advances In Nuclear Science And Technology: Volume 26 (advances In Nuclear Science & Technology)

AdVANCES iN NUClEAR SCiENCE: ANd TECHNOlOGY VOLUME 26 AdVANCES iN NUClEAR SCiENCE ANd TECHNOlOGY Series Editors Jeffery Lewins Cambridge University, Cambridge, England Martin Becker Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology Portland, Oregon Editorial Board R. W. Albrecht Ernest J. Henley John D. McKean K. Oshima A. Sesonske H. B. Smets C. P. L. Zaleski A Continuation Order Plan is available for this series. A continuation order will bring delivery of each new volume immediately upon publication. Volumes are billed only upon actual shipment. For further information please contact the publisher. AdVANCES iN NUClEAR SCiENCE ANd TECHNOlOGY VOLUME 26 Edited by Jeffery Lewins Cambridge University Cambridge, England and Martin Becker Oregon Graduate Institute of Science and Technology Portland, Oregon KIuwer Academic Publishers New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow eBook ISBN: Print ISBN: 0-306-47088-8 0-306-46110-2 ©2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers New York, Boston, Dordrecht, London, Moscow Print ©1999 Kluwer Academic / Plenum Publishers New York All rights reserved No part of this eBook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written consent from the Publisher Created in the United States of America Visit Kluwer Online at: and Kluwer's eBookstore at: http://kluweronline.com http://ebooks.kluweronline.com PREFACE As we close on the Millennium we also approach a half-century of nuclear power. The major peaceful application centres on the large-scale production of electricity but international politics in the last year has shown that we have not left the origins in nuclear weapons behind. Can we assess the future of nuclear technology in the coming century? Electricity remains the dominant role for nuclear technology, though we may recognise the valuable contributions of radio-isotope work to biology, agriculture, disease control, medical diagnostics and therapy in particular, with ramifications in most industries and civilised life. The supply of electricity from nuclear power remains of the order of 10% in the USA but rises to one-third in the UK and on to some 80% in France. Far Eastern countries still have a major construction program that might lead to them rivalling such figures. Indeed if we are to accept the majority judgement of scientists that global warming through, principally, carbon dioxide is a realistic threat, it is to be hoped that nuclear power will indeed be maintained and increased to balance the almost inevitable expansion of the use of coal by China in particular. Claims that countries such as Sweden will reduce CO2 emission and simultaneously reduce nuclear power seem but a chimera, lacking all technical credibility. The down-side remains, however. Not only is the world still threatened with nuclear weapons, by repute or even testing, but no country has had the political will to manage the disposal of radio-active wastes, not just the Achilles heel but the foot, shin and leg of nuclear power. Many scientists and engineers will suppose that this is solely a political problem, claiming that the technical solutions are available. Unfortunately, it makes it no less a problem and renders the prospect of continued, let alone expanded nuclear power, no less vulnerable for being political. And who amongst the technicians is wise to say that the atavistic public perception of the threat of nuclear power is irrational when sabre