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Tanabe K, Komeda M, Toh Y, Kitamura Y, Misawa T, Tsuchiya K, Sagara H. Compact and transportable system for detecting lead-shielded highly enriched uranium using 252Cf rotation method with a water Cherenkov neutron detector. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18828. [PMID: 39138280 PMCID: PMC11322446 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69526-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
The global challenge of on-site detection of highly enriched uranium (HEU), a substance with considerable potential for unauthorized use in nuclear security, is a critical concern. Traditional passive nondestructive assay (NDA) techniques, such as gamma-ray spectroscopy with high-purity germanium detectors, face significant challenges in detecting HEU when it is shielded by heavy metals. Addressing this critical security need, we introduce an on-site detection method for lead-shielded HEU employing a transportable NDA system that utilizes the 252Cf rotation method with a water Cherenkov neutron detector. This cost-effective NDA system is capable of detecting 4.17 g of 235U within a 12 min measurement period using a 252Cf source of 3.7 MBq. Integrating this system into border control measures can enhance the prevention of HEU proliferation significantly and offer robust deterrence against nuclear terrorism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Tanabe
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan.
- Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan.
| | - Masao Komeda
- Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Shirakata, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan
| | - Yosuke Toh
- Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Shirakata, Tokai-mura, Ibaraki, 319-1195, Japan
| | - Yasunori Kitamura
- Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Asashiro-Nishi, Kumatori-cho, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Misawa
- Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Asashiro-Nishi, Kumatori-cho, Osaka, 590-0494, Japan
| | - Ken'ichi Tsuchiya
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, 6-3-1, Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa-shi, Chiba, 277-0882, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sagara
- Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
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Tanabe K, Komeda M, Toh Y, Kitamura Y, Misawa T, Tsuchiya K, Akiba N, Kakuda H, Shibasaki K, Sagara H. Development of a water Cherenkov neutron detector for the active rotation method and demonstration of nuclear material detection. J NUCL SCI TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/00223131.2022.2143449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kosuke Tanabe
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba, Japan
- Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Energy, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masao Komeda
- Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yosuke Toh
- Nuclear Science and Engineering Center, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yasunori Kitamura
- Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Misawa
- Institute for Integrated Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Ken’ichi Tsuchiya
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Norimitsu Akiba
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Kakuda
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazunari Shibasaki
- Physics Section, National Research Institute of Police Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sagara
- Laboratory for Zero-Carbon Energy, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
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Tanabe K, Sagara H. A novel method of neptunium-237 detection in its separated form and advanced fuel based on photonuclear reactions. ANN NUCL ENERGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anucene.2022.108990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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