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Title: Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach

Abstract

Gamma-ray spectrometry has been successfully employed to identify unique items containing special nuclear materials. Template information barriers have been developed in the past to confirm items as warheads by comparing their gamma signature to the signature of true warheads. Their development has, however, not been fully transparent, and they may not be sensitive to some relevant evasion scenarios. Here, we develop a fully open template information barrier concept, based on low-resolution measurements, which, by design, reduces the extent of revealed sensitive information. The concept is based on three signatures of an item to be compared to a recorded template. The similarity of the spectrum is assessed by a modification of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to confirm the isotopic composition. The total gamma count rate must agree with the template as a measure of the projected surface of the object. In order to detect the diversion of fissile material from the interior of an item, a polyethylene mask is placed in front of the detector. Neutrons from spontaneous and induced fission events in the item produce 2.223 MeV gamma rays from neutron capture by hydrogen-1 in the mask. This peak is detected and its intensity scales with the item's fissile mass. Thismore » analysis is based on MCNP Monte Carlo simulations of various plutonium configurations suggests that this concept can distinguish a valid item from a variety of invalid ones. The concept intentionally avoids any assumptions about specific spectral features, such as looking for specific gamma peaks of specific isotopes, thereby facilitating a fully unclassified discussion. Finally, by making all aspects public and allowing interested participants to contribute to the development and benchmarking, we enable a more open and inclusive discourse on this matter.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
OSTI Identifier:
1367883
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1397768
Grant/Contract Number:  
NA0002534; NA 0002534
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 840; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 0168-9002
Publisher:
Elsevier
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; Gamma-ray spectrometry; Information barrier; Template approach; Nuclear warhead verification; Nuclear disarmament; Nuclear arms control; Prompt-gamma activation analysis

Citation Formats

Göttsche, Malte, Schirm, Janet, and Glaser, Alexander. Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.013.
Göttsche, Malte, Schirm, Janet, & Glaser, Alexander. Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.013
Göttsche, Malte, Schirm, Janet, and Glaser, Alexander. 2016. "Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.013. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1367883.
@article{osti_1367883,
title = {Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach},
author = {Göttsche, Malte and Schirm, Janet and Glaser, Alexander},
abstractNote = {Gamma-ray spectrometry has been successfully employed to identify unique items containing special nuclear materials. Template information barriers have been developed in the past to confirm items as warheads by comparing their gamma signature to the signature of true warheads. Their development has, however, not been fully transparent, and they may not be sensitive to some relevant evasion scenarios. Here, we develop a fully open template information barrier concept, based on low-resolution measurements, which, by design, reduces the extent of revealed sensitive information. The concept is based on three signatures of an item to be compared to a recorded template. The similarity of the spectrum is assessed by a modification of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to confirm the isotopic composition. The total gamma count rate must agree with the template as a measure of the projected surface of the object. In order to detect the diversion of fissile material from the interior of an item, a polyethylene mask is placed in front of the detector. Neutrons from spontaneous and induced fission events in the item produce 2.223 MeV gamma rays from neutron capture by hydrogen-1 in the mask. This peak is detected and its intensity scales with the item's fissile mass. This analysis is based on MCNP Monte Carlo simulations of various plutonium configurations suggests that this concept can distinguish a valid item from a variety of invalid ones. The concept intentionally avoids any assumptions about specific spectral features, such as looking for specific gamma peaks of specific isotopes, thereby facilitating a fully unclassified discussion. Finally, by making all aspects public and allowing interested participants to contribute to the development and benchmarking, we enable a more open and inclusive discourse on this matter.},
doi = {10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.013},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1367883}, journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment},
issn = {0168-9002},
number = C,
volume = 840,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Sat Oct 08 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}

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Cited by: 5 works
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Works referenced in this record:

Measurement Techniques for Warhead Authentication with Attributes: Advantages and Limitations
journal, May 2014


Nuclear Warhead Verification: A Review of Attribute and Template Systems
journal, September 2015


Implementation and testing of a multivariate inverse radiation transport solver
journal, July 2012


A better way to construct the sunflower head
journal, June 1979


On the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Limit Theorems for Empirical Distributions
journal, June 1948


Detecting changes in maps of gamma spectra with Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests
journal, December 2015

  • Reinhart, Alex; Ventura, Valérie; Athey, Alex
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 802
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.09.002