Special Nuclear Material Detection and Monitoring by Environmental Activation Products Detection

Technical Report · Mon Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1481527· OSTI ID:1481527

Marleau, Peter ^[1]; Shinner, Matthew ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Lab. (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States). Radiation and Nuclear Detection Systems
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Physics

Through a series of measurements with a high purity germanium detector, we have established that the past presence of neutron emitting material can be detected by the decay of activation products in aluminum containers, tungsten shielding, and concrete floors even several days after last exposure. The time since last exposure can also be estimated by the gamma-ray detection rate. These findings may lead to interesting new CONOPS in the detection of illicit SNM or the verification of the absence (or presence) of SNM containing objects in facilities and/or transit even after the material has been removed.

• Research Organization: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-CA), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation (NA-20)
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-94AL85000
• OSTI ID: 1481527
• Report Number(s): SAND--2018-12460; 668869
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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