Oak Ridge Multiple Attribute System (ORMAS) for Pu, HEU, HE, Chemical Agents, and Drugs
The concept for the Oak Ridge Multiple Attribute System (ORMAS) is a Nuclear Materials Identification System (NMIS) time-dependent coincidence processor that incorporates gamma ray spectrometry and utilizes a small, lightweight, portable DT neutron (14.1 MeV) generator (1 x 10{sup 8} n/s), proton recoil scintillation detectors, and a gamma ray detector (HPGe). ORMAS is based on detecting fission neutrons and gamma rays from inherent source fission, fission induced by the external DT source, gamma ray detection of natural emissions of uranium and Pu, and induced gamma ray emission by the interaction of the 14.1 MeV neutrons from the DT source. This system is uniquely suited for detection of shielded highly enriched uranium (HEU), plutonium and other special nuclear materials, and detection of high explosives (HE), chemical agents, and in some cases, drugs. It could easily be adjusted to utilize a trusted processor that incorporates information barrier and authentication techniques using open software and then be useful in some international applications for materials whose characteristics may be classified. Since it is based entirely on commercially available components, the entire system, including the NMIS data acquisition boards, can be built with commercial off the shelf components (COTS). ORMAS incorporates the PINS technology of A. J. Caffrey of the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory for HE, chemical agents, and drugs detection. The system hardware and software can be configured to obtain the following: Pu presence, Pu mass, Pu 240/239 ratio, Pu geometry, Pu metal vs. non metal (absence of metal), time (age) since processing for Pu, U presence, U mass, U enrichment, U geometry, U metal vs. non metal (absence of metal), high explosives, chemical weapons, and in some cases, drugs. A matrix of the quantities determined, the method of determination, whether active (external neutron source) or passive and the measurement equipment involved is given in the following table. Some of these attributes can be obtained by multiple data analysis methods. The gamma ray spectrometry methods for Pu, HE, and drugs are well known and have been developed by other laboratories. The system hardware and software may also be configured to estimate a selected subset of these attributes. In addition, signatures from ORMAS for fissile material can be used for template matching such as has been implemented for confirmation of inventories and receipts for weapons components at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge since 1996. Recently, Y-12 personnel were trained and have been operating three NMIS systems at the Y-12 complex. ORMAS has the advantage of combining multiple technologies into a single system for a variety of applications and thus is cost effective.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 814272
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-2001/175; TRN: US0304236
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 21 Sep 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Preliminary Evaluation of NMIS for Interrogation of Pu and HEU in AT400-RContainers at Mayak
Attributes and templates from active measurements with {sup 252}Cf
Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA ANALYSIS
FISSILE MATERIALS
FISSION NEUTRONS
HIGHLY ENRICHED URANIUM
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS
NATIONAL SECURITY
NEUTRON SOURCES
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
SPECTROSCOPY