James E' Baciak

1
Florida Institute of Nuclear Detection and
Security (FINDS) Advanced Radiation Detection
Concepts for Homeland Security

• James E. Baciak Glenn E. Sjoden
• Nuclear and Radiological Engineering,University
  of Florida

May 19, 2005
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Faculty of FINDS

• Prof. Haghighat (Interim Director of FINDS,
  Director of UFTTG-University of Florida Transport
  Theory Group) has been involved in a
  collaborative work with Westinghouse and INEEL on
  design of a nondestructive device for assaying of
  waste drums
• Prof. Baciak has been involved in design of small
  room-temperature radiation detectors that are
  essential for design of portable
  detection/inspection devices
• Prof Bolch has several ongoing projects
  augmenting FINDS in particular, he is leading an
  effort investigating triage dosimetry planning in
  preparation for post-event treatment following an
  RDD attack in the US.
• Prof. Dugan is co-inventor of the x-ray Lateral
  Migration Radiography (LMR) and Snapshot devices.
  The former has been used for landmine detection,
  flaw detection, space shuttle inspection, and
  seeing through walls
• Prof Sjoden (Interim Deputy Director of FINDS,
  Associate Director of UFTTG) has significant
  experience in radiation transport, nuclear
  detection, and in solving technical problems in
  non-proliferation research. During his 20 year
  period of USAF service, he was responsible for
  RD of devices for monitoring NBC weapons.
• Prof. Emeritus Alan Jacobs, co-inventor of x-ray
  LMR and SnapShot devices

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Introduction to FINDS

• Engage in the design and testing of innovative
  interrogation, detection, and assessment devices
  for monitoring nuclear substances.
• Explore development of devices for identification
  of isotopes and materials in structural,
  agricultural, biological systems of various
  types.
• Contribute to the education and training of
  uniquely qualified scientists and engineers,
  ready to apply cutting-edge engineering solutions
  in homeland security, detection, imaging, and
  interrogation of systems.

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Major Goal Portal Monitoring

• There is an essential need to positively detect
  all nuclear materials in portal monitoring, wide
  area search, and cargo screening applications.
• Most containerized cargo goes through Floridas
  (and the nations) seaports without being fully
  characterized
• The commonly used passive approach of a simple
  gamma-ray scan is not adequate to uniquely verify
  container contents
• A robust multi-layered detection system is needed
  for effective interrogation of containers.

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Why UF?

• Unique Expertise and capabilities at NRE
• Computational capability -- 3-D Parallel
  Radiation Transport codes and advanced methods
  (PENTRAN, A3MCNP)
• Detection capability -- New Room Temp Detection
  systems, advanced post processing algorithms
  (SEDRA)
• Modeling experience -- optimization of PGNAA
  device, simulation of large shielding problems,
  simulation of storage Cask
• Special radiography techniques devices --
  X-ray Lateral Migration Radiography (LMR),
  SnapShot system in progress
• Reactor, Radiation Labs, Parallel Computing
  Facilities

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Past

• Sample Related Past and
• Ongoing Projects

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Fuel Storage Cask
Height 610 cm, O.D. 340 cm, Shell I.D. 187 cm,
162.4 MT

• 318,426 fine meshes solved with P3-S12, coupled
  22 n/18 g
• PENTRAN, MG-MC dose results differed lt5 at tally
  points
• For the dose at the mid-axial location, A3MCNP
  shows a speed up of 140 times for upper/lower
  sections, the standard MCNP does not get any
  answer after 220 hours using 8 processors.

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Pulsed-g Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA)
device

• PENTRAN adjoint used to fold (n,g) source to
  predict HPGe detector response ...
• Results agree with experimental data within the
  limit of the experimental uncertainty

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He-3 Detector System (adjoint app)

• Computational He-3 Detector Design
• Objective Predict neutron detector
  response using PENTRAN Sn adjoint
  
• Continuous Energy MCNP agreement
• Limitations of BUGLE-96

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HgI2 Gamma-Ray Spectrometers
Raw spectrum (small-pixel effect only) - 3.0
After depth correction (3-D sensing) - 1.4
1 x 1 mm2 anode pixel
Non-collecting anode plate
Current world record in resolution for 1-cm thick
HgI2 detector
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• New Efforts

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Comprehensive Modeling of SNM Detection Scenarios
Using 3-D Transport

• Design, computationally optimize, and build an
  SNM parcel screening device
• PI/Co-PI Dr Sjoden/Dr J. Baciak
• Nancy Huang, M.S. student,
• Gabriel Ghita, Ph.D. student
• 3-yr level of effort for NNSA/DOE
• Assess of n, g radiation fields/spectrum
  from SNM using 3-D Transport
  Simulations (PENTRAN and MCNP)
• Optimize construction of He-3 detector array
• Non-proliferation applications

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Synthetically Enhanced Detector Resolution
Algorithm (SEDRA)

• Augment and improve SEDRA, a
  synthetic detector peak
  post-processing algorithm
• PI/Co-PI Dr Sjoden/Dr J. Baciak
• 2-yr effort for HSARPA/DNDO
• Eric Lavigne, M.S. student
• Goal Provide augmented peak identification
  methods in a rapid scan technique using low
  cost/resolution room temperature detectors,
  Minimizing false /-
• For Homeland Security
• Potential applications to other analysis
  modalities

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Accurate Agent Concentration Prediction in 3-D
Parallel PINPOINT Code

• Proposed effort to identify model CW/BW
  in micro-atmospheres
• Dr G. Sjoden (PI)
• Perform parallel 3-D adaptive grid CFD
• Proposed 3-yr level of effort
• Seeking Funding
• Goal Adapt parallel decomposition/differencing
  engines to solve the CFD (Navier Stokes)
  equations in 3-D for simulating indoor
  atmospheres for controlled experiment modeling
• Homeland Security, Physical Protection

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PENBURN 3-D Reactor Transport and Burnup
Simulations

• Models a candidate design to predict
  3-D burnup credit using true pin-by-pin
  transport
• Dr G. Sjoden (PI)
• Travis Mock, M.S. student in NE
• Dr Robert Smith, Post Doc
• Proposed 3-yr level of effort
• Goal Use PENTRAN to model a full 3-D core, link
  3-D burnup effects with the SCALE5 system to
  perform a full 3-D fuel cycle simulation using
  the latest nuclide updates now available in
  SCALE5 from ORNL.

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Design of Advanced detectors

• Development of unfolding algorithms for advanced
  detectors which can effectively work in radiation
  environments (PI, A. Haghighat funded by INL)
• Development of new interrogation devices for
  inspection of suspension bridges (PI, A.
  Haghighat funded by DOE)

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Areas of Activity Structural Monitoring

• Design problems surrounding post-tensioned
  bridges are an expanding issue, especially for
  publicly owned structures in the State of Florida
  and the Nation.
• Many bridges have had their structural integrity
  compromised by bleed water in conduits housing
  structural strands
• Strands are expensive to repair, and it is
  essential to develop nondestructive devices and
  methods that can identify the presence of bleed
  water before bridge structural integrity is
  damaged.
• Estimation of pipe wall thinning without removal
  of insulation (for use in power plant) is another
  application.

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Areas of Activity Medical Physics

• Medical Physics Modeling and Simulation Effort
• Apply neutral particle transport methods
• Total energy release/convolution methods to
  approximate neutral and charged particle dose
  effects in 3-D.
• Assess efficacy of new beam filtering procedures
  in Toshiba methodology using computational models
  (PENTRAN and MCNP), link with clinical data,
  trials
• Focus on Parallel Sn methods, Benchmark with
  Monte Carlo Methods (PENTRAN and MCNP)
• Goal minimize dose effects, extrapolate electron
  dose, accelerate data extraction and treatment
  planning, investigate beam fidelity create
  PENTRAN-MP for Med Physics
• Medical Physics Dose Optimization

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Potential Industry Applications

• Homeland/National Security
• Nuclear Power Plants / Waste Management
• Medical Industry / Hospitals
• Space Applications / Astronomy
• Environmental Monitoring
• Treaty Verification

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Points of Contact
For more information, please contact Alireza
Haghighat (haghighat_at_ufl.edu) Glenn E. Sjoden
(sjoden_at_ufl.edu) James E. Baciak
(jimmer_at_ufl.edu) University of Florida Nuclear
and Radiological Engineering 202 NSC Gainesville,
FL 32611 [phone] http//finds.nre.ufl.edu