scholarly journals Nuclear Forensics of a Non-Traditional Sample: Neptunium

MRS Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (44) ◽  
pp. 2999-3005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jamie L. Doyle ◽  
Daniel Schwartz ◽  
Lav Tandon
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Forensics ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Specialized Software ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Forensic Sample ◽  
Nuclear Forensic ◽  
Security Concern ◽  
Scanning Electron

ABSTRACT Recent nuclear forensics cases have focused primarily on plutonium (Pu) and uranium (U) materials. By definition however, nuclear forensics can apply to any diverted nuclear material. This includes neptunium (Np), an internationally safeguarded material like Pu and U, that could offer a nuclear security concern if significant quantities were found outside of regulatory control. This case study couples scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with quantitative analysis using newly developed specialized software, to evaluate a non-traditional nuclear forensic sample of Np. The results of the morphological analyses were compared with another Np sample of known pedigree, as well as other traditional actinide materials in order to determine potential processing and point-of-origin.

scholarly journals Nuclear Forensic Science: Analysis of Nuclear Material Out of Regulatory Control

2016 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 555-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Kristo ◽  
Amy M. Gaffney ◽  
Naomi Marks ◽  
Kim Knight ◽  
William S. Cassata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forensic Science ◽  
Nuclear Material ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Nuclear Forensic ◽  
Nuclear Forensic Science

scholarly journals National nuclear forensics libraries: a case study on benefits and possibilities for identification of sealed radioactive sources

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Vesterlund ◽  
Jody Canaday ◽  
David B. Chamberlain ◽  
Michael R. Curry ◽  
Björn Sandström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Forensics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Department Of State ◽  
Measurement Results ◽  
Subject Matter Expertise ◽  
History Of

AbstractA National Nuclear Forensic Library (NNFL) is a useful nuclear forensics tool which consists of information and subject matter expertise on radioactive and nuclear (RN) materials produced, used or stored within a State. If RN material is found out of regulatory control the NNFL can be used as part of a nuclear forensics investigation to help identify whether or not the material is consistent with a country’s national holdings. In previous work, a number of signatures which can be useful to identify sealed sources of 241Am were investigated. To validate the measurement results, an official query concerning information about two of the previously investigated 241Am sources was sent to the United States Department of State, the international point-of-contact (POC) for the U.S. NNFL. The aim of this work is to show how data obtained in a characterization of a radioactive source can be used in conjunction with an NNFL to investigate the history of a source out of regulatory control.

CANADIAN NATIONAL NUCLEAR FORENSICS CAPABILITY PROJECT

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Ball ◽  
I. Dimayuga ◽  
I. Summerell ◽  
M. Totland ◽  
G. Jonkmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Forensics ◽  
Forensic Analysis ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Regulatory Control ◽  
Radioactive Materials ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Defence Research ◽  
Technology Initiatives ◽  
Canada Limited ◽  
Security Science

Following the 2010 Nuclear Security Summit, Canada expanded its existing capability for nuclear forensics by establishing a national nuclear forensics laboratory network, which would include a capability to perform forensic analysis on nuclear and other radioactive material, as well as on traditional evidence contaminated with radioactive material. At the same time, the need for a national nuclear forensics library of signatures of nuclear and radioactive materials under Canadian regulatory control was recognized. The Canadian Safety and Security Program, administered by Defence Research and Development Canada's Centre for Security Science (DRDC CSS), funds science and technology initiatives to enhance Canada's preparedness for prevention of and response to potential threats. DRDC CSS, with assistance from Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, formerly Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, is leading the Canadian National Nuclear Forensics Capability Project to develop a coordinated, comprehensive, and timely national nuclear forensics capability.

scholarly journals Deep Learning Based Instance Segmentation of Titanium Dioxide Particles in the Form of Agglomerates in Scanning Electron Microscopy

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 968
Author(s):  
Paul Monchot ◽  
Loïc Coquelin ◽  
Khaled Guerroudj ◽  
Nicolas Feltin ◽  
Alexandra Delvallée ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Learning Community ◽  
Spherical Particles ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Size Characterization ◽  
Scanning Electron

The size characterization of particles present in the form of agglomerates in images measured by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) requires a powerful image segmentation tool in order to properly define the boundaries of each particle. In this work, we propose to use an algorithm from the deep statistical learning community, the Mask-RCNN, coupled with transfer learning to overcome the problem of generalization of the commonly used image processing methods such as watershed or active contour. Indeed, the adjustment of the parameters of these algorithms is almost systematically necessary and slows down the automation of the processing chain. The Mask-RCNN is adapted here to the case study and we present results obtained on titanium dioxide samples (non-spherical particles) with a level of performance evaluated by different metrics such as the DICE coefficient, which reaches an average value of 0.95 on the test images.

scholarly journals Seaborg's plutonium? A case study in nuclear forensics

2015 ◽  
Vol 83 (10) ◽  
pp. 843-845 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric B. Norman ◽  
Keenan J. Thomas ◽  
Kristina E. Telhami
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Forensics

The use of tabletop exercises in nuclear security education

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 344-356
Author(s):  
Michael Shattan ◽  
Adam Seybert ◽  
Robert Boone Gilbreath ◽  
Stephen Dahunsi ◽  
Howard L. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Homeland Security ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Outbreak Management ◽  
Security Education ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Course Material ◽  
Direct Student ◽  
Effective Use

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of tabletop exercises (TTXs) in graduate nuclear security education, their effectiveness and their relationship to traditional forms of classroom instruction. The paper highlights both the benefits and challenges of TTX implementation—the former including higher student motivation and material retention, and the latter including motivational shifts toward “winning” and possible student exclusionary behavior. Design/methodology/approach Survey results from 49 former students in a US university were collected electronically and combined with anecdotal evidence from student, facilitator and teaching assistant interviews following five iterations of a specifically designed, semester-long, TTX case study. The case study focused on securing a fictional nuclear facility. Findings Students found the TTX more memorable and retained more course material when asked to compare the TTX’s effectiveness to long-term course projects in other courses. Their in-class motivations tended to shift from traditional classroom motivations toward “winning,” and “not letting down their classmates.” In some iterations, students also observed classmates becoming more tempted to cheat or otherwise violate academic ethics. Mitigation strategies to prevent such temptations (e.g. removing direct student vs student TTX structures) were found to be effective. Originality/value This is the first report on the effective use of a semester-long TTX in a graduate nuclear security classroom. The flexibility of this instructional tool demonstrates its applicability to other classroom subjects including homeland security, emergency management, disease outbreak management and public policy among others.

scholarly journals Nuclear Forensics: A Methodology Applicable to Nuclear Security and to Non-Proliferation

2011 ◽  
Vol 312 (6) ◽  
pp. 062003 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Mayer ◽  
M Wallenius ◽  
K Lützenkirchen ◽  
J Galy ◽  
Z Varga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Forensics ◽  
Nuclear Security

Scenario Development for Nuclear Emergency Decision Deduction Training Platform for Radiographers in Developing Countries: Case Study, Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscilla Obeng Oforiwaa ◽  
Liang Manchun ◽  
Su Guofeng ◽  
Li Ke
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Scenario Development ◽  
Nuclear Terrorism ◽  
Scenario Design ◽  
Emergency Workers ◽  
Nuclear Security ◽  
Emergency Decision ◽  
Mining Exploration

Abstract Nuclear Radiological accident is of great threat to the Nuclear Agency aside nuclear terrorism. In countries with little or no major nuclear infrastructural facilities, it is of great importance to educate stakeholders and employees in the handling and emergency decision involved in the usage of these radionuclides, thus training on this platform gives the maximum and technical know-how in cases where it is difficult to procure types of equipment needed for such educational exercise in real life. Ghana is a country that seeks to increase the use of nuclear technological applications. Sealed Radioactive Sources are used in Ghana for research, Agriculture, mining exploration and brachytherapy. Operators need to train immensely in the handling of these sources. The NEDDTP is a software system to help conduct training and emergency exercises simulation. The NEDDTP is developed by the China Nuclear Security center of excellence with the aim of performing the simulation and training of radiographers and emergency workers in the nuclear industry. This training platform gives a 3D real-life training scenarios, emergency simulation, command and dispatch, Process record and evaluation in exercise with virtual reality display for radiological worker. This paper elaborates on the process for scenario design, types of scenario development for different types of radiological accidents and the stages involved in training with these scenarios.

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