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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Nuclear Forensics

Nuclear forensics is a key part of the nuclear security strategy for the United States and the international community. The NACS Division is central to the leadership role that LLNL has had in nuclear forensics over the past 25 years. Our current nuclear forensic program includes conducting R&D on provenance and attribution signatures, collaborating with international partners, training the next generation of nuclear forensic experts, developing test materials for verification and validation exercises, and providing expert advice to national and international policy makers. Key to our success in these areas has been the strong and continuing involvement in nuclear forensic casework obtained through law enforcement and intelligence channels as well as our outstanding analytical capabilities. NACS must continue to conduct forward-thinking R&D in nuclear forensics that supports operational programs and addresses intelligence gaps. To maintain leadership in nuclear forensics, we must attract, develop, and retain the best talent. The NNSA has a central leadership role in developing educational initiatives for nuclear forensics. In concert with the Glenn T. Seaborg Institute, the NACS Division will continue to participate in all nuclear forensic educational initiatives (undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral) and incorporate LLNL’s D&I vision into its student and postdoc recruitment efforts. We will continue to build formal relationships with key academic partners and institutions with active and emerging nuclear forensic research interests. We will also strengthen relationships with NNSA DNN and SSAA funded university consortia (e.g. NSSC, ACE, CNEC, CVT, ETI, MTV), helping them conduct research of interest and relevance to nuclear forensics, while at the same time evaluating and recruiting promising talent from these programs.

07 ISOTOPE AND RADIATION SOURCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Hyperspectral x-ray imaging mapping capabilities for nuclear forensics

Nuclear forensics relies on the integration of complementary signatures to constrain the origins and history of materials. Outcomes benefit from the timeliness and precision of the disparate methods that form typical analysis chains. Sample forms are often either minute in quantity or contain signatures like morphology or composition heterogeneity encoded on a microscale, so many analysis techniques focus on resolving signatures on ever-smaller length scales. The new hyperspectral x-ray imaging (HXI) instrument developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory seeks to improve the information available from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) x-ray spectrum analysis through superior spectral energy resolution vs. typical energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) systems in common use in nuclear forensics and other microanalysis fields. Based on arrays of transition-edge sensor (TES) microcalorimeter detectors, this instrument achieves a typical energy resolution of 7 eV full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) at 2 keV, opening new possibilities in trace element detection/analysis and chemical state determination through spectral shape shifts. We present here some of the first applications of the HXI instrument to actinide samples and discuss potential maturation of this nascent technology for future analysis pipelines.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2016

State of practice and emerging application of analytical techniques of nuclear forensic analysis: highlights from the 4th Collaborative Materials Exercise of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG)

Founded in 1996 upon the initiative of the “Group of 8” governments (G8), the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) is an ad hoc organization of official nuclear forensics practitioners (scientists, law enforcement, and regulators) that can be called upon to provide technical assistance to the global community in the event of a seizure of nuclear or radiological materials. The ITWG is supported by and is affiliated with roughly 40 countries and international partner organizations including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), EURATOM, INTERPOL, EUROPOL, and the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Besides providing a network of nuclear forensics laboratories that are able to assist law enforcement during a nuclear smuggling event, the ITWG is also committed to the advancement of the science of nuclear forensic analysis, largely through participation in periodic table top and Collaborative Materials Exercises (CMXs). Exercise scenarios use “real world” samples with realistic forensics investigation time constraints and reporting requirements. These exercises are designed to promote best practices in the field and test, evaluate, and improve new technical capabilities, methods and techniques in order to advance the science of nuclear forensics. The ITWG recently completed its fourth CMX in the 20 year history of the organization. This was also the largest materials exercise to date, with participating laboratories from 16 countries or organizations. Three samples of low enriched uranium were shipped to these laboratories as part of an illicit trafficking scenario, for which each laboratory was asked to conduct nuclear forensic analyses in support of a fictitious criminal investigation. An objective review of the State Of Practice and Art of international nuclear forensic analysis based upon the outcome of this most recent exercise is provided.

ITWG CMX-4↗
DOE OSTI2025

Advancing nuclear forensics competencies at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan and conceptual development of a National Nuclear Forensics Library

Since 2021, the National Nuclear Center (NNC) of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been successfully developing a project dedicated to nuclear forensics. The relevance of this project is underscored by Kazakhstan’s leading position in the global uranium mining and export market. The country operates research reactors and is involved in the production of experimental nuclear fuel. The nuclear forensics project is being implemented in several key areas: the project will develop competencies in laboratory research of samples, interpretation of results, and develop a prototype concept for the National Nuclear Forensics Library. In implementing these challenges, the NNC experts draw on the experience of colleagues from world-leading scientific and research centers. Designing a prototype National Nuclear Forensics Library (NNFL) is a challenging project. In conclusion, the solution to this task is based on the IAEA’s approaches, recommendations, and the experience gained from the construction of similar systems in other countries.

and nuclear chemistry↗
DOE OSTI2020

Recent Advances in Nuclear Forensic Chemistry

Nuclear forensics is a rapidly growing field with a widespread impact on global nonproliferation. From the beginning, nuclear forensic capabilities have been inextricably bound to existing limitations within chemistry and materials science. As nuclear forensics has continued to develop as a unique field of research, new advances in chemistry have revolutionized our ability to rapidly and quantitatively analyze radioactive materials for attribution. In particular, microanalytical techniques originally developed for nanoscience, such as micro-XRF, SIMS, and SEM-EDX, have enabled spatially resolved chemical analyses to be performed with only nanograms of material. Such techniques have redefined the paradigm for pre- and postdetonation nuclear forensics, as large quantities of material are no longer necessary for full characterization and attribution. This Review explains how modern nuclear forensic techniques have developed from their origins in chemistry and provides real-world examples of how these techniques have been used to characterize radioactive materials, including fallout from nuclear detonations such as the 1945 Trinity test.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advances in Autoradiography Systems for Nuclear Forensic Analysis

Nuclear forensic analysis techniques work to determine the contents of radiological samples with nondestructive and destructive analysis methods. Autoradiography is a nondestructive analysis method that creates an image of the distribution of radioactivity within the sample. These images allow the location of the radiological content within a sample to be ascertained, which can be used for further analysis. Autoradiography has been used since the discovery of radiation and has been continuously developed to better suit the needs of the medical, nuclear security, nuclear safeguards, and nuclear forensic communities. Recent developments in autoradiography have led to a higher spatial resolution down to a level of tens of microns, real-time capabilities that minimize the risk of overexposure, and the ability to discriminate particles. All of these developments in autoradiography would assist the nuclear forensics community in understanding the placement of radiological content within a sample and in understanding the locations of beta-particle interactions versus those for alpha-particle interactions. This article aims to discuss the history of autoradiography as well as multiple different autoradiographic technologies while focusing on imaging plates, the BeaQuant system, and the ionizing-radiation Quantum Imaging Detector system. This article reviews three autoradiographic techniques and detectors, discusses how they relate to nuclear forensics, and addresses the drawbacks and benefits of each detector.

Autoradiography↗
DOE OSTI2024

Synthesis and characterization of isotopically barcoded nickel, molybdenum, and tungsten taggants for intentional nuclear forensics

Intentional nuclear forensics is a concept wherein the deliberate addition of benign and persistent material signatures to nuclear material can be used to reduce the time between the discovery of material outside of regulatory control and determination of its original provenance. One concept within intentional nuclear forensics involves the use of perturbed stable isotopes to generate unique isotope ratio “barcodes” to encode information (e.g., production batch, location, etc.) and track material throughout the nuclear fuel cycle. Synthesis of taggant species of nickel (Ni), molybdenum (Mo), and tungsten (W) was undertaken via a double-spike mechanism, wherein two highly enriched isotopes of interest per elemental taggant were mixed to form an enriched “double-spike” which was subsequently isotopically diluted with bulk material having a natural isotopic composition. Two taggant species perturbing isotopic ratios, alpha (α) and beta (β), for each of Ni, Mo, and W were synthesized. Independent measurements of double spikes and alpha and beta taggant species agreed within uncertainty and are clearly resolvable from natural compositions. High-precision analyses were independently performed by MC-ICP-MS at two U.S. National Laboratories, with consensus values and uncertainties calculated for all samples. Observed isotopic perturbations in the final taggant species measured on the order of hundreds to thousands of permille (‰) with respect to natural for isotope ratios of interest (e.g., 60 Ni/ 58 Ni, 100 Mo/ 98 Mo, 186 W/ 183 W). Discrepancies between modeled and measured isotopic compositions were observed and are largely attributed to imprecise vendor assay values for starting materials. Using measured starting material compositions as inputs for the mixing model improved the level of agreement between predicted and measured α and β taggant isotope ratios. Overall, characterization of all taggant species demonstrates that this “barcode” concept could have viability for use in nuclear forensics. Finally, it is expected that for any two-isotope mixing array dozens of isotopic barcodes could be encoded into a material system and subsequently resolved utilizing modern mass spectrometric methods.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗
DOE OSTI2016

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

Nuclear forensic science seeks to identify the origin of nuclear materials found outside regulatory control. It is increasingly recognized as an integral part of a robust nuclear security program. Our review highlights areas of active, evolving research in nuclear forensics, with a focus on analytical techniques commonly employed in Earth and planetary sciences. Applications of nuclear forensics to uranium ore concentrates (UOCs) are discussed first. UOCs have become an attractive target for nuclear forensic researchers because of the richness in impurities compared to materials produced later in the fuel cycle. Furthermore, the development of chronometric methods for age dating nuclear materials is then discussed, with an emphasis on improvements in accuracy that have been gained from measurements of multiple radioisotopic systems. Finally, papers that report on casework are reviewed, to provide a window into current scientific practice.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Uncovering Uranium Isotopic Heterogeneity of Fuel Pellets from the Fifth Collaborative Materials Exercise of the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group

In 2017, the Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) organized their fifth 37 Collaborative Materials Exercise (CMX-5). The exercise samples were two uranium dioxide fuel pellets 38 manufactured from the same starting materials by different processes to have similar bulk isotopic 39 composition, but different spatial uranium isotopic distributions. Sets of identical materials were sent to 40 all participating laboratories, who then utilized their existing nuclear forensic capabilities to 41 independently analyse fuel pellets and identify similarities and differences of the materials’ 42 characteristics. The analytical methods used to probe the fuel pellets included ex situ, such as sectioning 43 or breaking up the pellets and analyzing dissolved pieces using inductively coupled plasma mass 44 spectrometry (ICP-MS), analyzing particles collected from intact or fragmented pellets by secondary ion 45 mass spectrometry (SIMS), as well as in situ methods, such as laser ablation coupled with ICP-MS, 46 autoradiography and nanoSIMS. In this paper we present the results of these independent analyses and 47 compare the capabilities of those nuclear forensic analytical methods to uncover details of the isotopic 48 heterogeneity of uranium fuel pellets.

Nuclear Forensic Analysis of Uranium Fuel Pellets,↗
DOE OSTI2017

Determination of origin and intended use of plutonium metal using nuclear forensic techniques

Nuclear forensics techniques, including micro-XRF, gamma spectrometry, trace elemental analysis and isotopic/chronometric characterization were used to interrogate two, potentially related plutonium metal foils. These samples were submitted for analysis with only limited production information, and a comprehensive suite of forensic analyses were performed. Resulting analytical data was paired with available reactor model and historical information to provide insight into the materials’ properties, origins, and likely intended uses. Both were super-grade plutonium, containing less than 3% 240 Pu, and age-dating suggested that most recent chemical purification occurred in 1948 and 1955 for the respective metals. Additional consideration of reactor modelling feedback and trace elemental observables indicate plausible U.S. reactor origin associated with the Hanford site production efforts. In conclusion, based on this investigation, the most likely intended use for these plutonium foils was 239 Pu fission foil targets for physics experiments, such as cross-section measurements, etc.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Mechanistic Investigation of Co(II) Extraction by TODGA to Aid Nuclear Forensic Separations

Nuclear forensic (NF) analysis supports law enforcement inquiries by analyzing evidence tainted with radioactive substances. Separation techniques can be used to identify and quantify actinides and fission 15 products in post-detonation (PD) debris. Environmental transition metals, also present in PD residues, have been observed to impact critical isotope extractions. For example, radio stable cobalt (Co), ubiquitous in urban environments, particularly in corrosion-resistant alloys, paint-drying agents, dyes, and pigments, can impact the separation of important actinides and fission products. The presented work aims to elucidate the chemistry Q2 governing Co extraction in samples pertinent to PDNF. Chemistry between Co and N,N,N,‘N’-tetraoctyl diglyco- 20 lamide (TODGA), the ligand present in the commercial chromatographic resin diglycolamide (DGA), were studied via solvent and chromatographic extraction and spectroscopic analyses. These results indicate that a tetrahedral Co(II) species is extracted by TODGA from highly acidic (>5M HCl) solutions via a spontaneous entropy-driven reaction. Furthermore, extraction trends in varied acid concentrations are consistent between solvent extraction and chromatographic extraction methods.

activation product↗
DOE OSTI2026

Creation of Speed-of-Sound Inject Data for Technical Nuclear Forensics

Technical Nuclear Forensics (TNF) exercises simulate a detonation of a nuclear device within the United States, usually in a city. Speed-of-sound (SOS) phenomenology are the atmospheric overpressure and ground shock mechanical motions that are observed at over-pressure (air-blast and infrasound) and seismic sensors, respectively (Figure 1). Amplitudes of SOS data are related to the explosive yield (Kinney and Graham, 1985; Koper et al., 2002; Bonner et al., 2013ab; Ford et al., 2014, 2021; Templeton et al., 2018; Schnurr et al., 2020). Within the country, the United States Prompt Diagnostics System (USPDS) includes a network of geophysical sensors to capture such SOS signals. During the TNF exercise, the event data will be analyzed by the players who know nothing about the technical details of the source (e.g. location, yield, explosive). Specifically, they will use the Integrated Yield Determination Tool (IYDT) to estimate the yield and height-of-burst or depth-of-burial (HOB/DOB). The IYDT allows the user to measure features on the overpressure and seismic channels, evaluate the consistency of features and jointly estimate yield and HOB/DOB. For these exercises, SOS data are simulated for the location, emplacement and yield of the device and signals are propagated to the observing stations. This document describes the steps undertaken in the simulation, validation, preparation and verification of SOS signals for TNF exercises.

45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEF↗
DOE OSTI2018

Trace element migration during UF4 bomb reduction: Implications to metal fuel production, worker health and safety, and nuclear forensics

Understanding the migration of trace contaminants during the production of U metal is vital for fabricating advanced nuclear fuels, for managing worker health and safety at foundry and processing facilities, and for advancing nuclear forensic science. A common method used to produce actinide metals is the bomb reduction of suitable U precursors. Here, we report the results of a series of experiments designed to quantitatively track the trace contaminants Th, Ca, and, Mg through a bomb reduction of UF4 using a vacuum induction furnace. In this series, UF4 charges were doped with increasing levels of elemental Th from 0-1000 ppm Th/U. Following reduction, the metal ingot products and the associated slag and crucibles were individually digested and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results show that Th fractionation occurred at all concentrations but was most significant, and near quantitative, in samples starting with Th concentrations below 100 ppm. Thorium was found to incorporate into the slag and crucible in roughly equal proportions. A significant amount of U and Ca migrated into the crucible walls, each correlated with Mg migration from the MgO crucible to the U metal product.

Reilly, Dallas D.↗
DOE OSTI2016

A non-destructive internal nuclear forensic investigation at Argonne: discovery of a Pu planchet from 1948

A plutonium alpha standard dating from 1948 was discovered at Argonne National Laboratory and characterized using a number of non-destructive analytical techniques. The principle radioactive isotope was found to be 239 Pu and unique ring structures were found across the surface of the deposition area. Due to chronological constraints on possible sources and its high isotopic purity, the plutonium in the sample was likely produced by the Oak Ridge National Lab X-10 Reactor. As a result, it is proposed that the rings are resultant through a combination of polishing and electrodeposition, though the hypothesis fails to address a few key features of the ring structures.

239Pu↗
DOE OSTI2020

Nuclear forensics: How science helps stop the trafficking of nuclear materials

Nuclear forensics is an essential activity in support of national counter-nuclear smuggling operations, as it can be used to provide unique and useful data to law enforcement for the prosecution of criminal nuclear smugglers and traffickers. Nuclear forensics can also be used to determine the origin of nuclear materials that have fallen out of regulatory control, allowing for the identification of weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the safeguarding of nuclear materials, while also generating a deterrent effect through attribution to the legal and responsible owners of nuclear materials out of regulatory control. This article describes the benefits of a nuclear forensics capability to any country in possession of nuclear materials, and describes how nuclear forensics can support an investigation into the origin of interdicted nuclear materials, using a case study of a nuclear materials interdiction in Australia to describe how nuclear forensics works in practice.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Review of Nuclear Forensics: 2016-2020

The study of nuclear forensics harkens back to the Manhattan Project-era, when scientists first started to analyze the debris from the 1945 Trinity test. Political turmoil stemming from the Cold War and the rehabilitation of Germany following WWII has led to new challenges in international security involving nuclear proliferation. Nuclear materials have, on occasion, been lost, misplaced, or stolen from former Soviet countries, and illicit materials have been interdicted all over the world. The National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center (NTNFC) was established in 2006, and has been at the forefront of drive to advance nuclear forensic capabilities in the United States. The ultimate goal of nuclear forensics is to examine nuclear and other radioactive materials using analytical techniques to determine origin and history of the material, particularly in the context of law enforcement investigations. Nuclear forensics can be divided into two parts: predetonation and post-detonation. Pre-detonation forensics, as the name implies, is the investigation of a nuclear material or weapon that has not been detonated or involved in an explosion, whereas postdetonation forensics is the study of activation or fission products in debris or the environment following the use of a nuclear or radiological dispersal device (RDD). Both parts require a number of analytical chemical and radiochemical techniques to determine identification of the material. Many advancements in analytical techniques, including rapidity, sample size, and forensic signatures have been made in recent years. The analytical methods that can be used in a nuclear forensic investigation, such as mass spectrometry and gamma spectroscopy, have been described in detail in previous reviews, including Straub et.al, and will not be explained here. This review will discuss recent publications (from 2016 to present) describing advancements of techniques such as radiochronometry, morphology, development of novel reference materials, and inter-laboratory collaborations for both pre- and post-detonation nuclear forensics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗