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Title: Colloquium: Neutrino detectors as tools for nuclear security

Journal Article · · Reviews of Modern Physics
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Nuclear and Chemical Sciences Division
  2. Univ. of California, Berkeley, CA (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
  3. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States). Center for Neutrino Physics
  4. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences
  5. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States). Dept. of Nuclear Engineering
+ Show Author Affiliations

For over 40 years, physicists have discussed possible uses for neutrino detectors in nuclear nonproliferation, arms control, and fissile materials security. Neutrinos are an attractive fission signature because they readily pass through matter. The same property makes neutrinos challenging to detect in systems that would be practical for nuclear security applications. This Colloquium presents a broad overview of several potential neutrino applications, including the near-field monitoring of known reactors, far-field monitoring of known or discovery of undeclared reactors, detection of reactor waste streams, and detection of nuclear explosions. Recent detector advances have made near-field monitoring feasible, whereas farther-field reactor detection and waste stream detection monitoring may be possible in some cases with further research and development. Very long-range reactor monitoring and nuclear explosion detection do not seem feasible for the foreseeable future due to considerable physical and/or practical constraints.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); University of California, Berkeley, CA (United States); Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA (United States); North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Nonproliferation and Verification Research and Development (NA-22); Nuclear Science and Security Consortium; Consortium for Verification Technology; Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities; Consortium for Monitoring, Technology and Verification; USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
NA0003920; AC52-07NA27344; NA0003180; NA0002534; SC0018327; NA0002576
OSTI ID:
1616453
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1604500; OSTI ID: 1623341; OSTI ID: 1804869
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-784940; 7347633668; TRN: US2106456
Journal Information:
Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 92, Issue 1; ISSN 0034-6861
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 35 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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