Technical Constraints in Nuclear Forensics
Technical Constraints in Nuclear Forensics Brett Isselhardt University of California, Berkeley Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Project on Nuclear Issues Conference Atomic Weapons Establishment October 10, 2008 Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Nuclear Forensics Characterizing unknown nuclear material with the expectation of revealing its source, history, or route for use in attributing responsibility. Three stages of forensic process: – Characterize material Generates data (numbers with uncertainties) – Comparison to databases Classification – Combination of classifications Reduce possible endpoints
Characterizatio n
Comparison to database
Combination of information
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Characterization Experimental measurements produce numbers with uncertainties: Major Elemental Composition Minor Elements Stable Isotopes Isotope Abundances
Structure Trace Elements (
Nuclear Forensics Characterizing unknown nuclear material with the expectation of revealing its source, history, or route for use in attributing responsibility. Three stages of forensic process: – Characterize material Generates data (numbers with uncertainties) – Comparison to databases Classification – Combination of classifications Reduce possible endpoints
Characterizatio n
Comparison to database
Combination of information
Department of Nuclear Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Characterization Experimental measurements produce numbers with uncertainties: Major Elemental Composition Minor Elements Stable Isotopes Isotope Abundances
Structure Trace Elements (
