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1) Software Design for Nuclear Security

Nuclear security is one of the ways to manage risks connected to the use of nuclear technology, by preventing the unauthorized possession or movement of nuclear materials.

Of specific interest in nuclear security is the detection of the so-called special nuclear materials (SNMs), materials that can be used as the primary ingredient to manufacture nuclear explosives. Within this framework the Nuclear Physics Division at KTH is developing a prototype Radiation Portal Monitor (RPM). RPMs are used to detected illicit trafficking of nuclear material, for example at border controls. The RPM prototype utilizes a novel technique based on the coincidence counting of fast neutrons and gamma-rays from the spontaneous fission, with a very high sensitivity to SNMs. By combining the coincidence counting technique with machine learning capabilities high precision localization of SNMs passing though the portal has also been demonstrated.

Task

At the present stage the RPM prototype has been using off-line data analysis to demonstrate detection and localization of SNMs. A crucial step in the finalization of the RPM prototype is to translate the results to real-time detection. We are looking for a highly motivated master student to develop software for an efficient real-time data-readout and acquisition system. The readout system will be based on state-of-the-art wave-form digitizers. If you are interested in joining this project and possess the following skills,

  • High proficiency in the C/C++ programming languages (required),

  • Experience with graphical user interface (gui) programming (advantage),

  • Knowledge about the principles of detection of fast neutrons and gamma-rays with scintillation detectors (advantage),

Please contact professor Bo Cederwall bc@kth.se for further details.