NSF 08-534 Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

National Science Foundation Academic Research Initiative (ARI)

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08534/nsf08534.htm?govDel=USNSF_25

• Program Title:

Joint Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO)/National Science Foundation (NSF): Academic Research Initiative (ARI)

• Synopsis of Program:– Research effort focused on detection systems, individual sensors or

other research that is potentially relevant to the detection of nuclear weapons, special material, radiation dispersal devices and related threats.

– Proposals should involve a comprehensive program of innovative and high-risk research in a focused or interdisciplinary area with potential for high impact.

• Full Proposal Deadline:

April 11, 2008 (due by 5 p.m. proposer’s local time)

$400k per year for 5 years.

Program Description

• Examples of possible topics that build on previous DNDO/DHS or NSF-supported research:– Science and Engineering of Detector

Materials, Concepts and Designs for New Sensors and Sensing Systems

– Science and Engineering of Non-Intrusive Active Interrogation Systems; Particle Generators and Accelerators, Associated Detectors, and Algorithms for Improved Data Analysis

– Nuclear Forensics and Attribution

Materials, Concepts and Designs for New Sensors and Sensing Systems

• Research to significantly improve the yield and performance of sensor materials beyond those presently available is needed.

• scintillator materials (e.g., faster response, higher light output, better linearity, and improvements in growth and fabrication)

• semiconductor materials (e.g., reducing impurities, optimizing charge collection, allowing room temperature operation, and innovatively improving blocking contacts) with the goals of excellent efficiency and energy resolution.

• Research in non-traditional detector concepts including electro-optical, acousto-optical, microwave, or RF technologies that may involve actively probing materials via optical or other means

• Sensors or systems that are capable of mobility, large standoff distance, or unattended operation are desired.

• nation-wide deployment requires an emphasis on reduced cost and size as well as increased portability and reliability.

Non-Intrusive Active Interrogation Systems; Particle Generators and Accelerators, Associated Detectors, and Algorithms for

Improved Data Analysis.

• full-system and system components aimed at quickly, reliably, and non-intrusively locating high density, high atomic number, and nuclear materials hidden among non-threat materials

• Large gradients accelerators with extremely, including muon generators and accelerators,

• Tunable, monochromatic photon sources with a selectable set of energies,

• Directed high-flux neutron sources with neutron energies above 2 MeV.

• Research in detectors for interrogation systems include: – High efficiency detectors designed for radiography and/or tomography

applications,– Fast neutron detectors that are insensitive to gamma-rays and can discriminate

neutron energies above several MeV.

• Research in fast, reliable, and automatic data analysis algorithms for imaging systems aimed at improving the determination of high-density, high atomic number, and nuclear materials.

Nuclear Forensics and Attribution.

Proposed research should emphasize advancements in the analytical techniques and instrumentation used in determining the origin and transit route of nuclear materials.

research studies which identify ways to improve on current utilization of signatures which can be used to identify source materials in the nuclear fuel cycle.

• Anticipated Type of Award:– Standard grant from NSF for the first year. Award type for follow up

years determined by DNDO.– Estimated number of awards: 7 to 8 not to exceed $400K annually

per award for a maximum duration of five years with a maximum total award size of up to $2M, inclusive of both direct and indirect costs.

• Organization Limit:– Proposals may be submitted only by universities and colleges.– Collaborations with National Laboratories including, e.g. summer

internships and other exchange of personnel, are strongly encouraged but must be performed on a no-exchange-of-funds basis.

• PI Limit:– 1 PI per proposal

• Submissions Procedure:– Submission via Grants.gov or NSF FastLane system– All collaborative proposals submitted as separate submissions from

multiple organizations must be submitted via the NSF FastLane system.

Concept of Compton Camera• Compton Camera

– Low-Z scatter detector (SD)

– High-Z, large aperture absorption detector (AD)

• Measures energy and 3-D position of -rays

• Measures incident angle , not

• Locus of incident direction vectors defines surface of cone

• Image reconstruction using knowledge of source plane

1Alexander Bolozdynya, 2David Koltick, 1Tomas Shutt , 1Adam Breadly, 1Pavel Brusov,1 Case Western Reserve University, 2 Purdue University

Multi-Layer Electro-Luminescent Camera (MELC)

• Multi-Layer Electro-Luminescent Camera (MELC)

• Layers of SD and AD filled with 20-40 kg Xe gas pressurized to 0.4 g/cm3

• E field > 1 kV/cm.bar ionizes Xe gas

• Drifting electrons stimulate electroluminescence of Xe atoms

• Photodetector arrays• HPXe detector energy resolution

between HPGe and NaI(Tl) detectors

• Robust system• Room temperature detectors

1Alexander Bolozdynya, 2David Koltick, 1Tomas Shutt , 1Adam Breadly, 1Pavel Brusov,1 Case Western Reserve University, 2 Purdue University

HPXe Mobile Nuclear Threat Detection System

• Nuclear threat detection system in van

• Active (HEU) or passive mode (Radiologicals)

• Expected nuclear material identification in < 10 sec with 0.01% false alarm rate

1Alexander Bolozdynya, 2David Koltick, 1Tomas Shutt , 1Adam Breadly, 1Pavel Brusov,1Case Western Reserve University, 2Purdue University

The Associated Particle Neutron Generator• Neutron Production

– Neutrons produced through D-T fusion reaction– Deuterium ions accelerated to ~ 100-keV onto

tritiated target– Maximum neutron flux ~ 109 n/s in 4π steradians

• Alpha Detector

– 3-inch active diameter– Alpha particles cause ZnO(Ga) phosphor to

fluoresce– Alpha pulse decay time ~ 1.5 ns– Detection efficiency ~ 94%

Concept for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) Cargo Scanner

• Demand coincidences in 3 adjacent detector panels with alpha detector

-rays escape SNM in narrow jets

APL’s A-920 Neutron Generator

Amount per Fission

(average)

Average Energy (MeV)

Prompt Gamma-Rays 7 1

Prompt Neutrons 4.4 2

Delayed Gamma-Rays 0.127 > 3

Delayed Neutrons 0.017 0.5

Concept for Coincidence Circuitry

Alpha signal strength indicates both presence of SNM and spatial location in the appropriate “voxel”

SNM Research at LLNL• “Nuclear Car Wash” Scanner

– Utilizes neutron-induced fission using pulsed neutron generator– Cargo container irradiated over neutron source located below ground– Arrays of liquid scintillator detectors detect both delayed neutrons

and delayed -rays – Energy and temporal distributions of delayed -rays is used as a

signature of SNM – Delayed neutrons also used as signature of SNM

• Disadvantages– Delayed -rays weak signal (~ 0.127 per fission)– Delayed neutrons weak signal (~ 0.017 per fission)– To make up for weak signals, neutron flux ~ 1x1011 n/s– Radiation issues become a problem

• Pulsed Photonuclear Assessment (PPA) Interrogation System

– Utilizes photon-induced fission using linear electron accelerator (max energy beam 12-MeV)

– Cargo container irradiated using high-energy bremsstrahlung photons

– Radiograph using arrays of Geiger-Muller tubes

– Neutron detectors mounted on the top to detect delayed neutrons

– Overlap of excess delayed neutrons and dense

material indicates presence of SNM

– Use of prompt -rays currently being investigated

• Disadvantages

– Delayed neutrons weak signal

SNM Research at INL

“Passport Scanner” by Passport Systems Inc.

• Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence Imaging (NRFI) for scanning cargo containers for SNM

• Capable of detecting and differentiating elements heavier than He (Z > 2)

• Nuclei excitation using MeV photons • Unique isotopic NRF states• Fluorescent back-scatter photons

detected using segmented and collimated detector array

• Obtain 3-D image of all isotopes in the cargo

• System coupled to conventional X-ray imager

• Coupled to 2D NRF absorption imager specifying total amount of any isotope in the beam path

http://www.passportsystems.com/tech.htm