United Kingdom - Norway Initiative Information Barrier Development: Technical Trial Results

摘要

As part of the UK-Norway initiative (UKNI), since 2007 the UK and Norway have worked together on developing a bespoke gamma detection system for substantiating a Host party declaration of nuclear material, with the intent that such a device could be used in a verified dismantlement regime. The system is designed to detect the presence and approximate isotopic composition of plutonium while protecting potentially sensitive information. Both hardware and software have been developed with a view to increasing Host and Inspector confidence in the measurements performed. This paper discusses the recent trials held at a civil nuclear facility in the UK, where the UKNI Information Barrier System was deployed against five samples of plutonium with varying isotopic compositions, held under safeguards on the site. Results from the trials and proposals for future work are presented and discussed.