The Application of radiochronometry during the 4th collaborative materials exercise of the nuclear forensics international technical working group (ITWG)

Kristo, M. J.*; Williams, R.*; Gaffney, A. M.*; Kayzar-Boggs, T. M.*; Schorzman, K. C.*; Lagerkvist, P.*; Vesterlund, A.*; Ramebck, H.*; Nelwamondo, A. N.*; Kotze, D.*; et al.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 315(2), p.425 - 434, 2018/02

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5680-5

In a recent international exercise, 10 international nuclear forensics laboratories successfully performed radiochronometry on three low enriched uranium oxide samples, providing 12 analytical results using three different parent-daughter pairs serving as independent chronometers. The vast majority of the results were consistent with one another and consistent with the known processing history of the materials. In general, for these particular samples, mass spectrometry gave more accurate and more precise analytical results than decay counting measurements. In addition, the concordance of the U-Pa and U-Th chronometers confirmed the validity of the age dating assumptions, increasing confidence in the resulting conclusions.

Uranium age-dating using in-situ isotope ratios by thermal ionization mass spectrometry for nuclear forensics

Okubo, Ayako; Shinohara, Nobuo; Magara, Masaaki

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 314(1), p.231 - 234, 2017/10

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-017-5379-7

The model date of two enriched uranium materials were determined using a new method for nuclear forensics investigation. In this method, the Th/U ratio was calculated without spike addition from measured ratios of Th/Th and U/U, and calculated Th/U ratio in secular equilibrium. The obtained model date for the low-enriched uranium material was agreed with the known production date within uncertainty. For the highly enriched uranium material, slightly younger model date than the known production date was obtained. The U interference on Th counting in thermal ionization mass spectrometry measurement was suspected as a potential cause.

Technical/institutional prerequisite for nuclear forensics response framework

Tamai, Hiroshi; Okubo, Ayako; Kimura, Yoshiki; Kokaji, Lisa; Shinohara, Nobuo; Tomikawa, Hirofumi

Dai-37-Kai Kaku Busshitsu Kanri Gakkai Nihon Shibu Nenji Taikai Rombunshu (CD-ROM), 8 Pages, 2017/02

Nuclear Forensics capability has been developed under the international collaborations. For its effective function, technical development in analysis of seized nuclear materials as well as the institutional development in comprehensive response framework are required under individual national responsibility. In order to keep the "chain of custody" in the proper operation of sample collection at the event scene, radiological analysis at the laboratory, storage of the samples, and further inspection and trial, close cooperation and information sharing between relevant organisations are essential. IAEA issues the Implementing Guide to provide the model action plan and assists individual national development. International cooperation for the technical improvement and awareness cultivation is promoted. Examples in such national developments will be introduced and prospective technical/institutional prerequisite for nuclear forensics response framework will be studied.

Current status and achievements on nuclear forensics technology developments for nuclear security

Kimura, Yoshiki; Shinohara, Nobuo; Okubo, Ayako

Nihon Genshiryoku Gakkai-Shi ATOMO, 57(12), p.782 - 786, 2015/12

no abstracts in English

Report on research and development of nuclear forensics technologies

Okubo, Ayako; Kimura, Yoshiki; Shinohara, Nobuo; Toda, Nobufumi; Funatake, Yoshio; Watahiki, Masaru; Sakurai, Satoshi; Kuno, Yusuke

JAEA-Technology 2015-001, 185 Pages, 2015/03

JAEA-Technology-2015-001.pdf:56.65MB

Nuclear forensics is the analysis of intercepted illicit nuclear or radioactive material and any associated material to provide evidence for nuclear attribution by determining origin, history, transit routes and purpose involving such material. Nuclear forensics activity includes sampling of the illicit material, analysis of the samples and evaluation of the attribution by comparing the analyzed data with database or numerical simulation. Because the nuclear forensics technologies specify the origin of the nuclear materials used illegal dealings or nuclear terrorism, it becomes possible to identify and indict offenders, hence to enhance deterrent effect against such terrorism. Worldwide network on nuclear forensics can contribute to strengthen global nuclear security regime. In this paper, the results of research and development of fundamental nuclear forensics technologies performed in Japan Atomic Energy Agency during the fiscal term of 2011-2013 were reported.

Atmospheric deposition of trace metals to the western North Pacific Ocean observed at coastal station in Japan

Okubo, Ayako; Takeda, Shigenobu*; Obata, Hajime*

Atmospheric Research, 129-130, p.20 - 32, 2013/07

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2013.03.014

To understand the atmospheric input of trace metals to surface seawaters, the total deposition samples were collected simultaneously from three coastal station in Japan. The observed flux was within the lower limit of the previous estimation based on a model. Except for Sc and Fe, all the elements showed a increasing tendency toward dissolution with decreasing the pH. We calculated the Sc-normalized enrichment factors. The increasing tendency toward dissolution with decreasing the pH was higher for Al than that of Fe.

Current status and future prospects on nuclear forensics technology development in ISCN-JAEA

Kimura, Yoshiki; Okubo, Ayako; Tomikawa, Hirofumi; Matsumoto, Tetsuya*; Umino, Yuji*; Hosoi, Masaharu*

no journal, , 

Joint validation of the in-situ uranium age dating method

Okubo, Ayako; Mayer, K.*

no journal, , 

Under the collaboration between EC-JRC and JAEA, the in-situ age dating method was subject to joint validation, and six different uranium materialswere used for this purpose. The age dating result by in-situ isotope method was consistent with known production dates of the respective samples. The uncertainty evaluation according to GUM for the in-situ isotope method indicates that the measured Th/Th ratio provides the highest contribution. The accuracy of in-situ isotope method can be improved by higher precision in Th/Th measurement.

Joint sample analysis on selected uranium ore concentrates and nuclear forensics library exercise

Kips, R.*; Lindvall, R.*; Marks, N.*; Gluschenko, V.*; Okubo, Ayako; Szeles, E.*

no journal, , 

Nuclear forensics and radiochemistry

Shinohara, Nobuo; Kimura, Yoshiki; Okubo, Ayako

no journal, , 

Nuclear forensics is the analysis of intercepted illicit nuclear or radioactive material and any associated material to provide evidence for nuclear attribution by determining origin, history, transit routes and purpose involving such material. Because the nuclear forensics methodologies provide hints of the origin of the nuclear materials used in illegal dealings or nuclear terrorism, it contributes to identify and indict offenders, hence to enhance deterrent effect against such terrorism. In the 59th Symposium on Radiochemistry, the results of research and development of fundamental nuclear forensics technologies (analysis of isotopic composition, impurity analysis, age dating of nuclear material, particle shape analysis by electron microscope, and nuclear forensics library) performed in Japan Atomic Energy Agency are reported. Japan's capability and the role of radiochemistry on nuclear forensics are also discussed in the Symposium.