Article title:Rapid interrogation of special nuclear materials by combining scattering and transmission nuclearresonance fluorescence spectroscopy

文章标题：散射与透射核共振荧光谱学相结合的特殊核材料快速讯问

DOI:10.1007/s41365-021-00914-x 

One sentence summary:

一句话概要：

The study proposes a feasible and rapid method to detect special nuclear materials (SNMs) in case of smuggling to improve homeland security.

该研究提出了一种可行、快速的方法来检测走私情况下的特殊核材料（SNMs）,以提高国土安全。

http://www.nst.sinap.ac.cn/newsDetails/112/4689/en/

The Novelty(What)

创新性（主要内容）

This study proposed an improvement to the existing special nuclear materials (SNMs) detection models by combining two spectroscopy techniques, i.e., scattering nuclear resonance fluorescence (sNRF) and transmission-NRF-based computed tomography (tNRF-CT). The combination enabled the proposed detector to identify isotopic composition and spatial distribution of ^235,238U when concealed in a 3-cm diameter iron rod. The outcome indicated a shortened interrogation time by one order of magnitude, making it a more rapid and sensitive option than current tNRF-CTapproach. Thus, the successful attempt of the proposed model in lowering the missed-detection rate within a realistic interrogation time would be of great value to upgrade national and global security systems.

本研究将散射核共振荧光（sNRF）和透射核共振荧光计算机断层扫描（tNRF-CT）两种光谱技术相结合，改进了现有的特殊核材料（SNMs）探测模型。这一组合使拟议的探测器能够识别隐藏在直径3厘米的铁棒中的^235,238U的同位素组成和空间分布。结果表明，探测时间缩短了一个数量级，使它比目前的单纯用透射断层扫描方法更快速和灵敏。因此，所提议的模式在现实的审讯时间内成功降低漏检率的尝试，将对国家和全球安全系统的升级具有重大价值。

The Background(Why)

研究背景（主要原因）

The integrity of global security has constantly been threatened due to the potential smuggling of special nuclear materials (SNMs) acrossborders and through ports of entry. As a matter of fact, the Incident Trafficking Database developed by the International Atomic EnergyAgency has reported several hundred incidents of illicit trafficking and malicioususe of certain nuclear and radioactive materials. Existing passive detection systems are ineffective when the interrogated SNMs are shielded, considering the low spontaneous radiation intensity and energy emitted in most cases. Therefore, this study proposed an active detection technique that uses external radiation sources to develop a more accurate, effective, and practicalapproach to non-destructively inspect SNMs, especially uranium.

由于特殊核材料可能越境和通过入境口岸走私，全球安全的完整性不断受到威胁。事实上，国际原子能机构开发的事件贩运数据库已经报告了数百起非法贩运和恶意使用某些核材料和放射性材料的事件。考虑到在大多数情况下低的自发辐射强度和发射的能量，现有的被动式探测系统对于开展屏蔽体中SNMs的同位素无损识别和成像是失效的。因此，本研究提出了一种利用外部辐射源的主动式探测技术，以研制一种更精确、有效、实用的SNMs无损检测技术，特别是铀。

The SDG impact(Big Why)

SDG影响力（研究意义）

International organizations such as the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) in the U.S. and the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) are constantly trying to strengthen global security against threats, one of which is nuclear terrorism. Hazardous nuclear materials falling into the wrong hands could lead to catastrophic events ranging from poisoning and radiation burns to nuclear attacks. To prevent such incidents, security systems need to be constantly upgraded, especially in terms of material inspections at borders, ports, and checkpoints. This study proposed a feasible technique to improve the non-destructive inspection capability of special nuclear material (SNM) through an innovative combination of imaging technologies. The outcome indicates that integration of such techniques could be beneficial to strengthening national and international security systems against nuclear smuggling, in extension, maintaining world peace. (UNSDG 9: Innovation, industry and infrastructure; UNSDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions)

美国的“核威胁倡议”(NTI)和联合国裁军事务厅(UNODA)等国际组织正在不断努力加强全球安全以应对威胁，其中之一就是核恐怖主义。危险的核材料落入坏人之手可能导致从中毒、辐射烧伤到核攻击等灾难性事件。为防止此类事件发生，安全系统需要不断升级，特别是在边境、港口和检查站的材料检测方面。本研究提出了一种可行的技术，通过一种创新的成像技术组合来提高特殊核材料(SNM)的无损检测能力。研究结果表明，这些技术的结合将有利于加强打击核走私的国家和国际安全系统，进而有利于维护世界和平。（联合国可持续发展目标9：创新、工业和基础设施；联合国可持续发展目标16：和平、正义和强有力的机构）