No abstract

An empirical potential study was performed for the americium (Am), neptunium (Np) containing uranium (U) and Plutonium (Pu) mixed oxides (MOX). The configurational space of a complex U1-y-y′-y″PuyAmy′Npy″O2 system was predicted by the rigid lattice Monte Carlo method. Based on the computing time and efficiency performance, the method was found to rapidly converge towards the optimal configuration. From that configuration, the relaxed lattice parameter of Am, Np bearing MOX fuel was investigated and compared with available literature data. As a result, a linear behaviour of the lattice parameter as a function of Am, Np content was observed.