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Information barrier experimental: Toward a trusted and open-source computing platform for nuclear warhead verification

Journal Article · · Measurement
 [1];  [2];  [2]
  1. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Program on Science and Global Security; University of Michigan
  2. Princeton Univ., NJ (United States). Program on Science and Global Security

Trusted measurement systems are critical for the verification of future arms-control treaties that involve confirming the authenticity of nuclear warheads on the basis of their radiation signatures. Several research efforts have produced prototype systems, but their designs are typically not published in detail, making it difficult to enable trust in these devices. The Information Barrier Experimental (IBX) is a new prototype built around the Red Pitaya computing platform using passive gamma spectroscopy. It is the first such platform designed to help a broad research community study vulnerabilities and define the required specifications for a common, trusted inspection system. It is low-cost, simple to assemble, and enables comprehensive hardware and software authentication studies. The device follows a digital data acquisition approach, which significantly reduces the number of components between scintillator and spectrum output. Finally, measurements demonstrate that this approach is technically feasible and produces excellent measurement results.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE NA Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0002534
OSTI ID:
1454800
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1550006
Journal Information:
Measurement, Journal Name: Measurement Journal Issue: C Vol. 114; ISSN 0263-2241
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Digital gamma-ray spectroscopy based on FPGA technology
  • Bolić, Miodrag; Drndarević, Vujo
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 482, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9002(01)01925-8
journal April 2002
Digital pulse processing for NaI(Tl) detectors
  • Di Fulvio, A.; Shin, T. H.; Hamel, M. C.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 806 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.09.080
journal January 2016
Low-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry for an information barrier based on a multi-criteria template-matching approach
  • Göttsche, Malte; Schirm, Janet; Glaser, Alexander
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 840 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.10.013
journal December 2016
FPGA Authentication Methods report May 2017

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