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Title: Nuclear Forensics: Scientific Analysis Supporting Law Enforcement and Nuclear Security Investigations

Journal Article · · Analytical Chemistry
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  1. Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Kirrawee DC, NSW (Australia)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

In Nuclear Forensic Science, analytical chemists join forces with nuclear physicists, material scientists, radiochemists, and traditional forensic scientists, as well as experts in nuclear security, nuclear safeguards, law enforcement, and policy development, in an effort to deter nuclear smuggling. Nuclear forensic science, or “nuclear forensics,” aims to answer questions about nuclear material found outside of regulatory control, questions such as ‘where did this material come from?’ and ‘what is the intended use of the material?’ In this Feature, we provide a general overview of nuclear forensics, selecting examples of key “nuclear forensic signatures” which have allowed investigators to determine the identity of unknown nuclear material in real investigations.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1240964
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-684102
Journal Information:
Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 88, Issue 3; ISSN 0003-2700
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 47 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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The Effect of Ionizing Gamma Radiation on Natural and Synthetic Fibers and Its Implications for the Forensic Examination of Fiber Evidence*: EFFECT OF IONIZING GAMMA RADIATION ON NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC FIBERS journal February 2011

Cited By (11)

Production and standardization of an on-demand protactinium-233 tracer journal August 2018
What’s that yellow powder? A nuclear forensic case study journal August 2018
Rapid measurements of 235U fission product isotope ratios using an online, high-pressure ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry protocol with comparison to isotopic depletion models journal February 2019
Development of a data-driven classification algorithm for fresh nuclear fuel forensics journal April 2019
Measurement of production date (age) of nanogram amount of uranium journal August 2019
Changing the rules of the game: used fuel studies outside of a remote handling facility journal November 2019
Listening to Radiation Damage In Situ: Passive and Active Acoustic Techniques journal November 2019
Analysis of geochemical basalts database as a simulant for uranium ore concentrates data: the Galaxy Serpent 3 Exercise journal July 2019
Nine isomorphous lanthanide–uranyl f–f bimetallic materials with 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid and terpyridine: structure and concomitant luminescent properties journal January 2018
Automated mineralogical profiling of soils as an indicator of local bedrock lithology: a tool for predictive forensic geolocation journal October 2019
Isotopic and Compositional Variations in Single Nuclear Fuel Pellet Particles Analyzed by Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry journal December 2019