2) Mechanical Automation for Nuclear Security

Background

Nuclear security is one of the ways to manage risks connected to the use of nuclear technology, by preventing the unauthorized possession or use of nuclear materials. The Nuclear Physics Division at KTH conducts research on nuclear safeguards and security with support from the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and the Swedish Research Council (VR). The objective is to develop new detection techniques and methodologies in these two fields and to come up with novel solutions and strategies for enhanced performance. 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

Rigorous standards (for example ANSI N42.35-2016) needs to be followed in order to demonstrate the detection of nuclear materials in real-time by RPMs. The goal of the current project is to develop an automized mechanism able to move radioactive sources through the RPM prototype with high repeatability and precision, necessary to perform the required radiological tests. The mechanism will be used to evaluate the RPM prototype against the standards. The student will also partake in the demonstration experiments of the RPM. If you are interested in joining this project, please contact professor Bo Cederwall bc@kth.se for further details.