RCD Department of Radiochemistry

The 13th PIIC Beijing Seminar on International Security：Building a World of Sustainable Peace and Stability

November 1-2, 2012 Beijing, China

Zhao Yonggang

Nuclear Forensics Research Nuclear Forensics Research in Chinain China

RCD Department of Radiochemistry

Main ContentMain Content

Foreword National Legal Requirements to R&D of Nuclear ForensicsTechnical Research on Nuclear Forensics in ChinaTechnical Application and ExchangeSummary

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ForewordForewordNPT plays an important role in preventing nuclear material and techniques from proliferation; Nuclear export control regimes are further strengthened globally;Nuclear material smugglings increased since

1990’s. Global securities are confronted with potential threat from nuclear terrorism.

RCD Department of Radiochemistry

Nuclear forensics is a measure for identification the origin of nuclear materials in illicit trafficking;It could also be used to reconstruct the nuclear device after a possible nuclear explosion.On the basis of ideal procedure of nuclear forensic investigation and attribution, the participators, the organizers and the supporters of the nuclear events could be found out theoretically.Nuclear forensics is deterrent measure for discouraging nuclear terrorism.

ForewordForeword

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National Legal Requirements to R&D of Nuclear National Legal Requirements to R&D of Nuclear ForensicsForensics

Regulations on Nuclear Export Control

Regulations on Nuclear Material control

The Trial Regulations on Transit of Nuclear Products

Regulations on Transportation Security of Radioactive Goods

Implementing Rules for Regulations on Nuclear Material Control

Medical Treatment Specifications for Radiation Injury

Regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material

Criminal law

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Police Office

Illicit trafficking

Nuclear material

Intercepted

C/S, protectioninvestigation

Technical section

On site analysis

Environmental protection section

Contamination, Dose measurementPublic psychological intervention

transit escort in licensedtransportation

. . .

sample

General Workflow of Investigation to Intercepted Nuclear Samples

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Safe and security section

Authorized Analytical Lab

Glove box

Sample receiving

Contamination 、Dose measurement

unpacking

Nuclear forensic

investigation

report

Police office

Illicittrafficking

criminalinvestigation

CAEA

Nuclear material

General Workflow of Investigation to Intercepted Nuclear Samples

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Technical Research on Nuclear Forensics in China

China has a good technical basis and long history on the research of radiological material analysis. Some research institutes in China, such as CIAE, CAEP, NINT…, have interests to develop nuclear forensic methodologies since 2000.

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Related WorksRelated Works

Numerical simulationMorphology of nuclear materialAge-dating of nuclear materialImpurities of uranium ore concentrateIsotopic compositionPreparation for National Nuclear Forensics Database

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0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

燃耗(兆瓦天/公斤重金属)

154钆

/158钆

沸水堆(3.4%) 压水堆(3.4%) 沸水堆(4.2%) 压水堆(4.2%)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 500.000

0.005

0.010

0.015

0.020

0.025

0.030

燃耗(兆瓦天/公斤重金属)

245锔

/242钚

沸水堆(3.4%) 沸水堆(3.4%) 沸水堆(4.2%) 压水堆(4.2%)

Numerical Simulation

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Fluorescence spectrometer

Atlas of morphological characteristics of uranium particles

Morphology of Nuclear Material

SEM

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Age-dating of Nuclear Material

Uranium age :

Plutonium age :

Method 234U/230Th 235U/231Pa 234U/214Bi

SD（>20year HEU） < 2.5% < 10% < 5%

241Am/241Pu :

240Pu/236U :

MC-ICP-MS, α Spectrometer, liquid scintillation spectrometer

MC-ICP-MS

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Impurities of Uranium Ore Concentrate

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

Co La Nd Fe Hg Na Mg Al Ca Mo

Na2U2O7

U3O8

(NH4)2U2O7

ng/ml

RCD Department of Radiochemistry

Isotopic composition

234U, 235U, 236U and 238UMC-ICP-MS, SIMS, TIMS

Uranium isotopic ratio:

Oxygen isotopic ratio:SIMS, TIMS

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Preparation for National Nuclear Forensics Database

Setting up of framework of nuclear forensicsdatabase;Collecting and cataloging the material and data; Establishing criteria and enhancing the capabilityDomestic exercise and analytical capability inter-comparison on nuclear forensics

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International Cooperation and

Technical Exchange

CISAC/CISGAC meetingIAEA’s technical consultancy meetingIAEA’s regional workshop on nuclear forensics

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Radiation level

Macrocosmic features

Isotopes

Microcosmic features

Impurities

Cylinder, Chamfer，Central Axial holeHeight 10.96mm

O.D. 7.56mmI.D. 2.36mm

Surface Smooth and Porosity

0.05 µSv/h

An intercepted samples

Case Study

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Radiation level

Macrocosmic features

Isotopes

Microcosmic features

Impurities

Case Study (Cont.)

An intercepted sample

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Qualitative Analysis of suspected Samples

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SummarySummary

Nuclear forensics should be based on national legal requirements;Nuclear forensic investigation is a complicated process where various methods could be applied;Establishment of database is a key step for implementation of nuclear forensics;Chinese researchers did a lot in nuclear forensics and like to promote the cooperation in the field.

RCD Department of Radiochemistry