One billion opportunities to protect nuclear material

For this milestone, ORNL used old radiation detectors repurposed into plaques. This photo shows the plaque fabrication process in progress at the lab. Credit: ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Across the world, more than 90 countries have joined together to protect radioactive sources from falling into the hands of adversaries. This global community actively searches for lost or stolen material using radiation portal monitors that scan people, cars, trucks, trains and luggage at airports, seaports, border crossings and other international checkpoints. Of these countries, about half send the data from their monitors to the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory to review for maintenance issues. Recently, ORNL received radiation information for the one billionth item to be scanned, highlighting a milestone of nuclear nonproliferation collaboration.

DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration's, or NNSA, Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence started deploying radiation detectors in 1998 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Deployments initially focused on the Russian border but later expanded to other checkpoints around the world. In 2008, ORNL began to formally receive, store and analyze the radiation data from the globally distributed detectors. To date, the program has deployed more than 5,000 radiation portal monitors to countries willing to work with the United States to further their commitment to reduce the risk of smuggled nuclear material.

"We have received data from more than 40 countries from well over 1,000 different radiation portal monitors," said Alexander Enders, a nonproliferation program manager at ORNL. "The program has partnerships with 92 countries around the world, and researchers from ORNL traveled to 63 of them last year." Trips abroad include managing relationships to ensure the needs of each country are met and equipment is working properly.

On Feb. 15, 2024, the one billionth item, also known as an "occupancy," was scanned at the Port of Aqaba, Jordan, one of the early sites where radiation detection equipment was installed. Representatives from DOE expressed their deep appreciation and gratitude for the longstanding partnership with Jordan's Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission to keep Jordan, the region and the world safe. This milestone shows the extent of countries committed to preventing the spread of radioactive material through the amount of data volunteered to ORNL for continuous improvement. As adversaries push the limits of smuggling dangerous material, this collaboration pushes back through science-backed analysis.

Ray Greenberg, federal program manager for DOE's NSDD relationship with Jordan, presents engineer Ziad Al-Saida, right, with a plaque honoring the one billionth item scanned by radiation portal monitors. Credit: Georgia Adams/PNNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy

Though Jordan scanned the one billionth item in February, ORNL didn't receive the data until months later. Data takes time to aggregate, collect, download and submit to ORNL. On July 23, 2024, the site in Jordan where the occupancy was documented received a commemorative plaque made from parts of actual gamma radiation detectors. When brought into the sunlight, the plaques glow purple - just as they would when detecting radiation.

Thanks to this program, Enders said ORNL now has the world's largest database of occupancies to train new algorithms or new ways of detecting signals.

"Collecting this amount of data over the past 16 years gives ORNL unparalleled insight into the behavior of radiation detection systems in the stream of commerce," Enders said. "We continue to develop a rich dataset to test future potential algorithms in different seasons, locations and environments.

"This data lets us find indications of future problems before they become an operational issue."

The next step for Enders and his team is data automation that enables a computer to analyze and observe the data received from these radiation portal monitors.

The global nonproliferation community actively takes a stand to protect lives with every radiation portal monitor installation. ORNL will evolve how the incoming data is analyzed to increase the speed at which the community can respond to threats.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science. - Liz Neunsinger