Sensor for Identification of Distant Nuclear Materials

To address the DARPA’s need for Special Nuclear Material (SNM) detection, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Sensor for Identification of Distant Nuclear Materials (SID-NUM). This proposed system is based on a multilayer approach using radio wave signal reflection from low-density plasma created through ionization of air by gamma rays from SNM. The innovation in the use of pulsed broadband radio waves that reflect from low-density plasma mass will enable the SID-NUM to accurately and effectively detect SNMs at distance greater than 5 km (never before achieved) and with high degree of accuracy. As a result, this SID-NUM system offers detection of SNM with a high degree of confidence (greater than 95%) and low false alarm rate (less than 0.01%), which directly addresses the DARPA requirements. In Phase I POC will develop and investigate the specific approach, and assemble a TRL 2-3 prototype to demonstrate its technical feasibility. In Phase II, POC will continue design improvement, experimentation, and test analyses on all the relevant and untested phenomenology, and assemble and demonstrate a TRL 4-5 prototype for 5 km detection range capability.