Stand-off Detection of Alternative Signatures of Radiation

Prevention of the smuggling of special nuclear materials (SNMs) and other radioactive material into the United States is a key national security objective. It is desirable to have a system capable of stand-off detection to monitor and rapidly alert the presence of covert nuclear materials. In Phase I, Tanner in collaboration with the University of New Mexico have established the method of inferring nuclear radiation infer via observing alternative signatures of radiation. In Phase II Tanner proposes to design, assemble and deliver a prototype system capable of detecting tens of grams of SNMs and other radioactive materials at stand-off distances of greater than 40 m. This will be a TRL-6 stand-off detection prototype that probes the stand-off location, performs data acquisition and analysis and displays the results, all accomplished via a graphical user interface that controls the operation of the instrument.