Current status of a JAEA development program on nuclear and radioactive materials detection techniques in major public events

大規模イベントにおける原子力機構の核・放射性物質の検知技術開発状況

小泉 光生 ; 高橋 時音; 弘中 浩太 ; 持丸 貴則*; 山口 郁斗*; 木村 祥紀  ; 谷垣 実*; 正木 弘子*; 原田 博司*; 後藤 淳*; 山西 弘城*; 若林 源一郎*

Koizumi, Mitsuo; Takahashi, Tone; Hironaka, Kota; Mochimaru, Takanori*; Yamaguchi, Ikuto*; Kimura, Yoshiki; Tanigaki, Minoru*; Masaki, Hiroko*; Harada, Hiroshi*; Goto, Jun*; Yamanishi, Hirokuni*; Wakabayashi, Genichiro*

Development of radiation detector systems are essential to prevent nuclear terrorism in major public events. They are required to find nuclear and radioactive materials effectively at gates and in event sites. Overview of such detector system development program is given. (1) Broad area survey system: Broad area survey measurements are usually implemented to ensure radioactive materials, such as dirty bomb, are not placed in a site. To carry out the surveillance efficiently, combination of radioactive detector and mapping system is required. We are, therefore, developing a gamma-ray detector with a GPS system and a simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) system to cover outdoor and indoor surveillance. A secure low-power and long-range network system using Wi-SUN FAN is being tested. It would be beneficial to coordinate detector systems, to correct information. They are monitored in an operation center. An artificial intelligent (AI) program is also under development to eliminate false alert from an obtained gamma-ray spectrum. A compact Compton camera would be applicable to figure out the location of hidden radioactive materials. A system with GAGG crystals is being tested. (2) Neutron detector system using plastic scintillation detectors: Neutron detection would be useful to find out nuclear materials and neutron sources shielded in heavy-element materials. A plastic scintillation detector is chosen as a detector material, because that is low-cost, sensitive to fast neutrons, easy to handle, and thus easy to be deployed. Gamma-ray background can be reduced by employing a Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) technique to enhance the sensitivity to fast neutrons. Developments of systems using PSD plastic scintillation detectors are in progress.