Development of a System for Monitoring of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Air Pollution

Nuclear, chemical and biological warfare weapons are the weapons of mass destruction (WMD). It will be desirable to develop a single detection system for monitoring proliferation of WMD based on monitoring of the particulates and trace chemicals in the air by air sampling. All the WMD and their production facilities give out particulates or chemicals in the air which can be monitored by a air sampler and detection systems. The proposed detection systems are spectroscopic innature and have a number of common elements which can be used to design a compact monitoring system for nuclear, chemical and biological WMD. For nuclear detection, we will use a sensitive gamma detection system based on CdZnTe crystal detectors and MCA. For chemical detection we will use a diode laser based spectroscopic technique and for biological warfare agent detection we will use UV flourescence technique. In Phase I a review of all the existing detection technologies will be made and design of a compact system for monitoring of the WMD based on air sampling technique will be completed. The system will be built in Phase II. In addition, we will design and build a chemical detection system in Phase I which can be used for detection of chemical weapons as well as environmental pollution. The system for monitoring of the WMD can be used for environmental pollution measurement. Anticipated Benefits: The system, once developed, can be used to monitor the proliferation of WMD in certain countries in different parts of the world who have active programs in such weapons. The system can be used for air pollution and environmental monitoring and monitoring of chemical processes. There would be a large commercial market for such a system.