NE 130- ANALYTICAL METHODS FOR NON-PROLIFERATION

Catalog Description:

Laboratory and Lecture. Use of nuclear measurement techniques to detect clandestine movement and/or possession of nuclear materials by third parties. Nuclear detection, forensics, signatures, and active and passive interrogation methodologies will be explored. Techniques currently deployed for arms control and treaty verification will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on common elements of detection technology from the viewpoint of resolution of threat signatures from false positives due to naturally occurring radioactive material. Laboratory will involve experiments conducted in the Nucleonics Laboratory featuring passive and active neutron signals, gamma ray detection, fission neutron multiplicity, and U and Pu isotopic identification and age determination. Students should be familiar with alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation and basic concepts of nuclear fission. Morse

Course objectives and outcomes

Course Objectives: It is the instructor's intention to...

* familiarize students with the basics of nucler weapons and the types
of special nuclear material involved
* show how SNM can be detected and analyzed forensically
* illustrate the methods of monitoring for nuclear tests
* show the properties of radiation detectors, existing and proposed,
for active and passive interrogation
* discuss source technologies for active interrrogation systems under
development

Course Outcomes: Students must be able to...

* identify isotope peaks in gamma ray spectra for SNM and for
naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM)
* solve coupled differential equations for radioactive decay and
for isotope production in reactors
* use seismic data to estimate the location, release energy, and
nuclear/non-nuclear origin of seismic events
* calculate gamma ray attenuation for shielded-source configurations
* estimate neutron and gamma-ray efficiencies and resolution
* use uncertainty table data to specify rates of false positives and
Matthews correlation coefficients
* use airborne monitoring data to determine U/Pu fission type
* Understand and use the Pu-300 method to determine plutonium age
* understand the function and interplay of national and
international organizations involved in nonproliferation and arms
control issues