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Nuclear Forensics: Role of Radiation Metrology

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Handbook of Metrology and Applications

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Abstract

Nuclear forensic analysis is a relatively new approach to provide technical support for the investigation of security incidents that may arise due to unauthorized use of nuclear or radioactive materials. The increasing rate of smuggling, trafficking, illegal possession, and theft of nuclear or radioactive material has become a worldwide challenge. Considering the potential hazards associated with the nuclear/radioactive material, the proper investigation and identification of the material are extremely important to prevent illegal trafficking and other unauthorized activities. The nuclear forensic analysis provides clues on the origin and intended use of nuclear materials which supports nuclear attribution. In a designated nuclear forensic laboratory, seized nuclear/radioactive material will be analyzed for the characteristic signatures using several established analytical techniques. To establish the origin and nature of samples, it is important to investigate elemental composition, isotopic composition, chemical impurities, macroscopic appearance, microstructure, etc. Comparison of the signatures using the nuclear forensic library consisting of a database of known samples, processes, etc. also is an important requirement. The analyses should be carried out following certified procedures and standard techniques. Intercomparison exercises and certified reference materials play an important role in the quality assurance of data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, India

    S. Mishra, S. Anilkumar & A. Vinod Kumar

Authors
  1. S. Mishra
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  2. S. Anilkumar
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  3. A. Vinod Kumar
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    Dinesh K. Aswal

  2. Physico-Mechanical Metrology, CSIR - National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sanjay Yadav

  3. National Metrology Institute of Japan, National Institute of Advanced Industrial, Ibaraki, Japan

    Toshiyuki Takatsuji

  4. National Institute of Standards and Tech, Gaithersburg, MD, USA

    Prem Rachakonda

  5. Mechanical Engineering Department, National Institute of Technology, Delhi, India

    Harish Kumar

Section Editor information

  1. Health Physics Division, BARC, Mumbai, India

    M S Kulakrni PhD

  2. Radiological Physics and Advisory Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India

    B. K Sapra PhD

  3. Radiation Safety Systems Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India

    Probal Chaudhury PhD

  4. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Division, BARC, Mumbai, India

    A. Vinod Kumar PhD

  5. Bhabha Atomic Research Center, Mumbai, India

    D. K. Aswal

  6. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (CSIR-NPL), New Delhi, India

    Sanjay Yadav

Annexure A

Annexure A

A list abbreviations and acronyms used in the chapter (arranged alphabetically)

μ-Raman:

Micro Raman Spectroscopy

μ-XRF:

Micro X-ray Fluorescence

AMS:

Accelerated Mass Spectrometry

AS:

Alpha Spectrometry

ASCLD:

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors

ASTM:

American Society for Testing and Materials

AWCC:

Active Well Coincidence Counters

CRM:

Certified Reference Material

DDA:

Differential Die-Away Technique

FTIR:

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry

FT-TIMS:

Fission Track Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

GC-MS:

Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer

HEU:

Highly Enriched Uranium

HPGe:

High Purity Germanium (HPGe) Detector

HRGS:

High Resolution Gamma Spectrometer

IAEA:

International Atomic Energy Agency

IC:

Ion Chromatograph

ICPMS:

Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

ICP-OES:

Inductive Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry

ICP-SFMS:

Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometer

IDMS:

Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometer

IRMM:

Institute For Reference Materials and Measurements

IRMS:

Isotope Resolution Mass Spectrometry

ISO:

International Standards Organization

ITDB:

Incident and Trafficking Database

ITWG:

International Technical Working Group (Nuclear Forensics)

Kev:

Kilo Electron Volt (A unit of energy)

LA:

Laser Ablation

LEU:

Low Enriched Uranium

LSC:

Liquid Scintillation Counting

MC-ICPMS:

Multi Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

MC-ICPMS:

Multi-Collector Inductively Coupled Plasma Sector Field Mass Spectrometer

MeV:

Mega Electron Volt (A unit of energy)

Ms:

Mass Spectrometer

NAA:

Neutron Activation Analysis

NBS:

National Bureau of Standards, USA

NDA:

Non-Destructive Assay

NF:

Nuclear Forensics

NIST:

National Institute of Science and Technology, USA

NRF:

Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence

PIPS:

Passivated Implanted Planar Silicon Detector

QA:

Quality Assurance

QC:

Quality Control

R&D:

Research and Development

RDD:

Radiological Dispersion Device

REE:

Rare Earth Element

RIMS:

Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry

SEM-EDS:

Scanning Electron Microscope with Energy Dispersive Sensor

SIMS:

Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometry

SNM:

Special Nuclear Material

SPC:

Statistical Process Control

SRM:

Standard Reference Material

TEM:

Transmission Electron Microscopy

TIMS:

Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry

UOC:

Uranium Ore Concentrate

XAS:

X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy

XRD:

X-Ray Diffraction

XRF:

X-Ray Fluorescence

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Mishra, S., Anilkumar, S., Vinod Kumar, A. (2023). Nuclear Forensics: Role of Radiation Metrology. In: Aswal, D.K., Yadav, S., Takatsuji, T., Rachakonda, P., Kumar, H. (eds) Handbook of Metrology and Applications. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-2074-7_134

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