Field Prototype of the ENEA Neutron Active Interrogation Device for the Detection of Dirty Bombs

Nadia Cherubini, Alessandro Dodaro, Giada Gandolfo, Luigi Lepore, Giuseppe A. Marzo, Ermanno Piccinelli and Romolo Remetti
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Nadia Cherubini: ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00123, Italy
Alessandro Dodaro: ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00123, Italy
Giada Gandolfo: Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, SAPIENZA University of Roma, via Scarpa 14, Roma 00161, Italy
Luigi Lepore: Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, SAPIENZA University of Roma, via Scarpa 14, Roma 00161, Italy
Giuseppe A. Marzo: ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00123, Italy
Ermanno Piccinelli: ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, C.R. Casaccia, via Anguillarese 301, Roma 00123, Italy
Romolo Remetti: Department of Basic and Applied Sciences for Engineering, SAPIENZA University of Roma, via Scarpa 14, Roma 00161, Italy

Challenges, 2016, vol. 7, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: The Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) Neutron Active Interrogation (NAI) device is a tool designed to improve CBRNE defense. It is designed to uncover radioactive and nuclear threats including those in the form of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the so-called “dirty bombs”. The NAI device, at its current development stage, allows to detect 6 g of 235 U hidden in a package. It is easily transportable, light in weight, and with a real-time response. Its working principle is based on two stages: (1) an “active” stage in which neutrons are emitted by a neutron generator to interact with the item under inspection, and (2) a “passive” stage in which secondary neutrons are detected originating a signal that, once processed, allows recognition of the offence. In particular, a clear indication of the potential threat is obtained by a dedicated software based on the Differential Die-Away Time Analysis method.

Keywords: neutrons; neutron interrogation; neutron generator; special nuclear materials; security; improvised explosive device; dirty bomb; fissile; fertile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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