James Jones demonstrates nuclear material detection with the pulsed photonuclear assessment technology.

Our nonproliferation research and development is directed at supporting U.S. efforts in identifying and securing nuclear materials and other weapons of mass destruction to prevent use by terrorists. Counterproliferation R&D; focuses on developing materials and technologies that may be used in a preemptive sense to deny, disrupt, delay, or destroy proliferation capabilities.

Our scientists have developed technologies and sensor systems to detect, identify and prevent the spread of nuclear, chemical, explosive and biological weapons.

The Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy (PINS) System (142 KB) is a field non-destructive evaluation tool to identify the contents of munitions and chemical storage containers safely and reliably. Originally developed for use by the U.S. Army to identify chemical warfare agents within stockpiled or non-stockpile munitions, PINS has also shown remarkable value in environmental applications where it is used to identify or confirm contents of potentially hazardous contains. PINS - a 1992 R&D; 100 award winner - can detect chemical weapons agents, explosives and hazardous materials in typical assay times of 100 to 1000 seconds.

Using accelerator technology, our scientists have developed a method to identify nuclear material in various shielded configurations. Our process can differentiate between legally shipped medical, commercial and research isotopes and smuggled weapons-grade uranium. We are working with a commercial firm to test the system at a U.S. point-of-entry. (Read more...) (157 KB) In addition to detecting nuclear materials, this technology has been adapted to detect explosives. (Read more...)

We conduct additional active interrogation research at INEEL Contraband Detection Technologies Testbed, located on the INEEL Test Range. We also collaborate with Idaho State University with research conducted at the Idaho Accelerator Center, a world-class accelerator application and radiation science facility located in Pocatello, Idaho and operated in cooperation with Idaho State University, the INEEL and the Department of Energy. (Read more...)

We participate in DOE’s Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention. (Read more in the July 2002 Need to Know) This DOE program employs former Soviet Union scientists who had previously worked on weapons-type research. These scientists are now funded to develop technologies addressing national and international problems that can lead to commercial ventures, thus rendering such personnel unavailable to countries wishing to develop WMD capabilities. Current projects include establishing a Russian Ecological Biotrade Center, developing a bioinsecticide, improving medical imaging and others.

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