A Novel Approach for Detection of Illicit Nuclear Activities Using Optically Stimulated Dosimetry

Volume: 64, issue 1, June 2022, pages 64-74

Authors: Egemen M. Aras and Robert B. Hayes

_{North Carolina State University}

Abstract:The enemy always looks to defeat the detection systems. To handle this tackle, defense in depth in detection is a must. In this work, we propose a complementary detection mechanism for illicit nuclear activities in nuclear facilities in addition to current detection techniques. If one of the detection systems cannot detect illicit nuclear activity, at least one more system is supposed to catch the enemy's action. This action can be either an internal or external thread.

Optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry is used in personal, environmental, retrospective, space, neutron, and medical areas. This system can be a complementary measurement system with the advantages of using without electricity and having those in any nuclear facility. A model is defined with the function of system parameters and the background dose to use OSLDs for the proposed purpose. The model enables us to evaluate the background dose, the initial dose, and the bleaching constant for the reader, including the uncertainty. A case study is worked to prove the model.

According to the model and the case study, we can flag the illicit nuclear activity in the proposed nuclear facility by using optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs).

Keywords: radiation detection; nuclear safeguards; nuclear non-proliferation; optically stimulated luminescence dosimetry

Reference guideline:

Egemen, M., Aras, M., & Hayes, R.B. (2022, June). A Novel Approach for Detection of Illicit Nuclear Activities Using Optically Stimulated Dosimetry. ESARDA Bulletin - The International Journal of Nuclear Safeguards and Non-proliferation, 64(1), 64-74. https://doi.org/10.3011/ESARDA.IJNSNP.2022.6