PROGRAM AREA OVERVIEW

47. TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT THE NUCLEAR AND RADIOLOGICAL NATIONAL SECURITY PROGRAM

The DOE/NNSA Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation sponsors the development of many types of sensors, data collection systems, and data analysis systems to detect and deter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The scope of this mission includes developing technologies to detect the production of materials for nuclear weapons, and to support the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT). The Nuclear and Radiological National Security Program (NRNSP) develops technologies for detecting the radiation and chemical signatures associated with the production of nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons materials. This topic focuses on the development of detection systems and data analysis methods to address these NRNSP missions. Grant applications are sought only in the following subtopics:

a. Radiation Detection Technologies—Improved, enabling technologies must be developed and demonstrated to support stand off and onsite monitoring and verification of the NPT and other international arms control agreements. In particular, research is needed to demonstrate practical methods for detecting the diversion of small quantities of nuclear materials from known production sites of highly enriched uranium. Therefore, grant applications are sought to develop: (1) new scintillator materials, other suitable materials, and enabling technologies to substantially increase the performance (in resolution, sensitivity, and range) of currently available radiation detectors; (2) new safeguard practices for the improved detection, identification, and tracking of diverted fissile materials in transit, particularly when the materials are shielded; (3) unattended sensor systems that integrate signature analysis and alarm functions into an expandable network based on state-of-the-art communication and internet protocol systems; and (4) alternative signatures/techniques that indicate a radioactive source is present or, better yet, identify the source – this can include the use of nano-technologies, bio-sensors, or any other advanced concept for close up and long range applications.

b. Detection and Monitoring of Nuclear Facilities—The Nuclear and Radiological National Security Program continues to develop improved instrumentation for the analysis of chemical samples related to nuclear nonproliferation activities. To support this program, grant applications are sought to develop:

(1) An economical femtosecond laser source for use in laser ablation mass spectrometry analysis. The laser source must have a laser pulse duration less than or equal to 1 picosecond FWHM (full-width at half-maximum), and a UV wavelength less than or equal to 300nm. The laser should be able to produce a fluence of approximately 5J/cm² at a focal spot diameter of 5µm and a repetition rate of 1KHz. For further information or clarification of these requirements please contact Dr. Richard Russo [(510) 486-4258, rerusso@lbl.gov] at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

(2) Next-generation instrumentation for elemental/isotopic mass analysis. The new instrumentation, which would complement or replace existing instrumentation, should be based on technologies other than existing mass spectrometers or optical spectroscopy systems.

c. Algorithms for Effluent Detection and Identification—Advanced LWIR hyperspectral imaging sensors, used for effluent detection and identification, are capable of observing target areas repeatedly for time periods that span seconds, minutes, hours, days, and many months. Moreover, the targets may be observed from a variety of viewpoints: from overhead with large ground sample distances (few meters); at modest angles from overhead (say 45°); along horizontal paths viewed from mobile and fixed ground locations, with sub-meter ground sample distances; and up-looking from close in, with the sky as the background. The nature of the multi-scan data collection modes, coupled with the range of viewing conditions and the need to provide information in a timely manner, presents a challenging problem set for the effective exploitation of data. Therefore, grant applications are sought to develop algorithms that can exploit the temporally changing plume target position and/or background for improvements in target detection, chemical effluent identification, and false alarm rejection. The algorithms must be suitable for analyses by a person-in-the-loop, have full automation capability to support batch processing, and be amenable to implementation in real-time operating systems.

Phase I should be a feasibility study using existing multi-look sensor data as an initial problem set. The algorithms developed must demonstrate the capability to exploit temporal information and to provide increased performance with regard to plume detection and effluent identification. The potential for automation is important and should be demonstrated. All software code must operate in a Sun/UNIX environment, with an ultimate goal of operating in a PC/Windows environment in Phase II. Phase II would involve research for automating advanced detection and identification methods and for developing a prototype software package that implements automated algorithms. In addition, Phase II would involve a feasibility study for real-time implementation.

For further information or to clarify these requirements, please contact Dr. Randy S. Roberts [(925) 423-9255, roberts38@llnl.gov] at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Contact and discussion is recommended to avoid misunderstandings and unresponsive grant applications.

References:

Subtopic a: Radiation Detection Technologies

1. Prettyman, T. D., et al., “Development of High Efficiency, Multi-Element CdZnTe Detectors for Portable Measurement Applications” Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 248(2):295-300, May 2001. (ISSN: 0236-5731)(Available at: http://journals.kluweronline.com/. At top of page select “JOURNALS” tab. Then search for title of article in “Journal Article”.)

2. Prettyman, T. D., et al., “Performance of CdZnTe Detectors Passivated with Energetic Oxygen Atoms” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 422(1-3):179-184, February 11, 1999. (ISSN: 0168-9002)

3. Prettyman, T. D., et al., “Theoretical Framework for Mapping Pulse Shapes in Semiconductor Radiation Detectors,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 428(1)72-80, June 1999. (ISSN: 0168-9002) (To view abstract and to order article, see: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/publications/journal/physics. In center of page under “Search for a title,” select “Browse A-Z.” Select “n” from letters of the alphabet and scroll down to journal title. Continue search using information given above.)

4. The IAEA Safeguards System: Ready for the 21st Century, Supplement to the IAEA Bulletin Vol. 41, No. 4/December 1999, Vienna: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), 1999. (Available at: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/NVS1-2003_web.pdf)

5. Safeguards Techniques & Equipment, 2003 Edition, International Nuclear Verification Series, Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), August 2003. (Full text available at: http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/NVS1-2003_web.pdf)

Subtopic b: Detection and Monitoring of Nuclear Facilities

6. Poistrasson, F., et al., “Comparison of Ultraviolet Femtosecond and Nanosecond Laser Ablation ICP-MS in Glass, Monazite, and Zircon”, Analytical Chemistry, 75(22):6184-6190, 2003. (Print ISSN: 0003-2700; Web ISSN: 1520-6882)

7. U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Technologies Underlying Weapons of Mass Destruction, OTA-BP-ISC-115, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 1993. (Full text available at: http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1993/9344.html)

8. U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, Environmental Monitoring for Nuclear Safeguards, OTA-BP-ISS-168, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, September 1995. (Full text available at: http://www.wws.princeton.edu/~ota/disk1/1995/9518/9518.PDF

Subtopic c: Algorithms for Effluent Detection and Identification

9. Funk, C., et al., “Clustering to Improve Matched Filter Detection of Weak Gas Plumes in Hyperspectral Thermal Imagery,” IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 39(7), July 2001. (ISSN: 0196-2892)

10. Sheen D., et al., “Impact of Background and Atmospheric Variability on Infrared Hyperspectral Chemical Detection Sensitivity,” in Proceedings of SPIE (International Society for Optical Engineering) 2003: Algorithms and Technologies for Multispectral, Hyperspectral and Ultraspectral Imagery IX, Bellingham, WA, August 3-8, 2003, 5093:218--227, September 2003. (ISBN: 0-8194-4953-9) (To view abstract, see: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/. Select “Search References”, and then “instrumentation.” Perform search using information above.)

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