Researchers Study the Possibility of Tabeling Nuclear Materials
Despite strong regulations and robust international safeguards, authorities routinely interdict nuclear materials outside of regulatory control. Researchers from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory are exploring a new method that would give forensic specialists the ability to analyze intercepted nuclear materials and determine their origine.
The project aims to study the possibility of intentionally adding forensic features to nuclear fuel, the so-called “ taggants” or “dopants”. Similar to sulfur added to natural gas, which helps to quickly identify gas sources, tagged nuclear materials detected beyond regulatory control can be quickly analyzed through pre-added tags.
Ashley Shields, a computational chemist in ORNL’s Nuclear Nonproliferation Division, notes that the nuclear forensics community seeks to understand where materials came from and how long they have been out of regulatory control. This information is key to law enforcement investigations.
A broader study in this area aims to find out whether taggants can be added in such a way that the tagged nuclear fuel does not jeopardize the safety or performance of a nuclear power plant. ORNL’s team is currently studying materials that occur early in the nuclear fuel cycle to determine when and if taggants can be added to provide a measurable signature throughout the fuel cycle that will enhance nuclear security.