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 electrooptical, 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.
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full-system and system components aimed at quickly, reliably, and nonintrusively 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.
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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
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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
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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
Amount per
Fission
(average)
Average
Energy
(MeV)
7
1
4.4
2
Delayed Gamma-Rays
0.127
>3
Delayed Neutrons
0.017
0.5
Prompt Gamma-Rays
Prompt Neutrons
APL’s A-920 Neutron Generator
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
SNM Research at INL
• 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
“Passport Scanner” by Passport Systems Inc.
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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