Nuclear Forensics and Attribution for Improved Energy Security

Nuclear Forensics and Attribution for Improved Energy Security

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 10

ISBN-13:

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The Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), recently announced by DOE Secretary Bodman, poses significant new challenges with regard to securing, safeguarding, monitoring and tracking nuclear materials. In order to reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation, new technologies must be developed to reduce the risk that nuclear material can be diverted from its intended use. Regardless of the specific nature of the fuel cycle, nuclear forensics and attribution will play key roles to ensure the effectiveness of nonproliferation controls and to deter the likelihood of illicit activities. As the leader of the DHS nuclear and radiological pre-detonation attribution program, LLNL is uniquely positioned to play a national leadership role in this effort. Ensuring that individuals or organizations engaged in illicit trafficking are rapidly identified and apprehended following theft or diversion of nuclear material provides a strong deterrent against unlawful activities. Key to establishing this deterrent is developing the ability to rapidly and accurately determine the identity, source and prior use history of any interdicted nuclear material. Taggants offer one potentially effective means for positively identifying lost or stolen nuclear fuels. Taggants are materials that can be encoded with a unique signature and introduced into nuclear fuel during fuel fabrication. During a nuclear forensics investigation, the taggant signature can be recovered and the nuclear material identified through comparison with information stored in an appropriate database. Unlike serial numbers or barcodes, microtaggants can provide positive identification with only partial recovery, providing extreme resistance to any attempt to delete or alter them.


Nuclear Forensics

Nuclear Forensics

Author: Gene Aloise

Publisher: DIANE Publishing

Published: 2010-08

Total Pages: 17

ISBN-13: 1437918921

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The detonation of a nuclear weapon or radiological dispersal device in the U.S. or elsewhere would cause decision makers to demand info. on the nature of the device -- incl. its design, the materials used to build it, and the materials' source -- as well as the ident. of the perpetrators. Technical nuclear forensics -- the analysis of nuclear or radiological materials that are intercepted or the radioactive debris and prompt output signals produced by a nuclear event -- can contribute to the ident. of the sources of the materials and the processes used to create them. This report assesses the: (1) challenges the U.S. gov¿t. faces in developing and maintaining a comprehensive nuclear forensics capability; and (2) the current and future costs associated with this effort.


Nuclear Forensics Support

Nuclear Forensics Support

Author: International Atomic Energy Agency

Publisher: IAEA

Published: 2006

Total Pages: 88

ISBN-13:

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Illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive material has been an issue of concern since the first seizures in the early 1990s. By the end of 2004, IAEA member states had confirmed 540 cases with another 500 unconfirmed. This publication sets out information on the use of nuclear forensic investigation methods in incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive material. Issues covered include: definitions of key terms, the Nuclear Forensics Plan of Action, incident response, laboratory sampling and distribution, nuclear forensic analysis, traditional methods of forensic analysis, nuclear forensic interpretation, and the procedures involved in requesting assistance from the IAEA.


Nuclear Forensics in Support of Investigations

Nuclear Forensics in Support of Investigations

Author: International Atomic Energy Agency

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789201021151

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This publication is a revision of IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 2, Nuclear Forensics Support, which was published in 2006. Since then, there has been substantive expansion and confidence in the application of nuclear forensics globally to effectively counter the threat of nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control. Most significantly, nuclear forensics has been applied in response to a number of incidents involving the illicit trafficking of highly enriched uranium and plutonium. The essential lessons learned from these experiences are incorporated in the revised publication to update the procedures and methods used in the conduct of a nuclear forensic examination as well as stress the importance of international cooperation.


Application of Nuclear Forensics in Combating Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material

Application of Nuclear Forensics in Combating Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material

Author: International Atomic Energy Agency

Publisher:

Published: 2013-06-30

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9789201151131

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This publication presents the outcome of an IAEA coordinated research project (CRP), which served as a technical forum for sharing international experiences in the field of nuclear forensics with a focus on improved procedures and techniques, optimization of nuclear forensic analysis, preservation of evidence, and provision of support to Member States. The CRP results address both technical needs to develop the discipline of nuclear forensics as well as to promote confidence in the application of analytical methods and understanding of the nuclear fuel cycle applied to nuclear forensics. Topics include instrumentation and field work for evidence collection, novel laboratory methods supporting a nuclear forensic examination, and modeling for interpretation of nuclear forensic results.


Nuclear Forensics

Nuclear Forensics

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2010

Total Pages: 17

ISBN-13: 9780309158749

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Nuclear forensics is important to our national security. Actions, including provision of appropriate funding, are needed now to sustain and improve the nation's nuclear forensics capabilities. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), working with cooperating agencies and national laboratories, should plan and implement a sustainable, effective nuclear forensics program. The United States has developed a nuclear forensics capability that has been demonstrated in real-world incidents of interdicted materials and in exercises of actions required after a nuclear detonation. The committee, however, has concerns about the program and finds that without strong leadership, careful planning, and additional funds, these capabilities will decline.


Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Author: Kenton J. Moody

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2005-02-28

Total Pages: 524

ISBN-13:

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This book provides a primary reference source for nuclear forensic science, including the vastly disciplinary nature of the overall endeavor for questioned weapons of mass-destruction specimens. Nothing like this exists even in the classified material. For the first time, the fundamental principles of radioforensic analysis, all pertinent protocols and procedures, computer modeling development, interpretational insights, and attribution considerations are consolidated into one convenient source. The principles and techniques so developed are then demonstrated and discussed in their applications to real-world investigations and casework conducted over the past several years.


Nuclear and Radiological Forensics and Attribution Overview

Nuclear and Radiological Forensics and Attribution Overview

Author: D. K. Smith

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 17

ISBN-13:

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The goal of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Nuclear and Radiological Forensics and Attribution Program is to develop the technical capability for the nation to rapidly, accurately, and credibly attribute the origins and pathways of interdicted or collected materials, intact nuclear devices, and radiological dispersal devices. A robust attribution capability contributes to threat assessment, prevention, and deterrence of nuclear terrorism; it also supports the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in its investigative mission to prevent and respond to nuclear terrorism. Development of the capability involves two major elements: (1) the ability to collect evidence and make forensic measurements, and (2) the ability to interpret the forensic data. The Program leverages the existing capability throughout the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory complex in a way that meets the requirements of the FBI and other government users. At the same time the capability is being developed, the Program also conducts investigations for a variety of sponsors using the current capability. The combination of operations and R & D in one program helps to ensure a strong linkage between the needs of the user community and the scientific development.


Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Author: Kenton J. Moody

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2014-12-10

Total Pages: 516

ISBN-13: 143988062X

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Now in its second edition, Nuclear Forensic Analysis provides a multidisciplinary reference for forensic scientists, analytical and nuclear chemists, and nuclear physicists in one convenient source. The authors focus particularly on the chemical, physical, and nuclear aspects associated with the production or interrogation of a radioactive sample.