Dual-Particle Imager (DPI)

Detection for Nuclear Nonproliferation Group/Research/Research Projects/Dual-Particle Imager (DPI)

Research Focus Areas: 2, 3, & 6

Ph.D. Students: M.C. Hamel (Graduated) & M.L. Ruch (Graduated)

Collaborators: (SNL)

Dual particle imager with Front Plane. Back Plane, EJ-309 and NaI (TI) labeled.

The dual-particle imager (DPI) has been designed to detect the neutron and gamma-ray signatures emitted from special nuclear materials such as plutonium and highly enriched uranium. The DPI combines a traditional Compton camera for gamma-ray detection and a neutron scatter camera by using a shared scatter plane of organic liquid scintillators. Excellent pulse-shape discrimination capabilities of these detectors allows the system to produce separate neutron and gamma-ray signals. The scattering kinematics also allows for the reconstruction of each particle’s incident energy, giving the DPI spectroscopic capabilities.

The DPI has been tested in experiments simulating possible non-proliferation scenarios by measuring sources such as mixed-oxide nuclear fuel, weapons-grade plutonium, and highly enriched uranium in an active interrogation setting. These experiments showed that the DPI could successfully image multiple sources emitting neutrons and gamma-rays and discriminate between special nuclear material and other radioactive sources using spectroscopy and custom image reconstruction algorithms.

Dual particle imager with DPI, DT Generator and 13.7 kg HEU labeled.

Ongoing work includes improving Monte Carlo models of the system to accurately predict response as well as benchmarking system performance. Improvements to the system’s resolution and image reconstruction are sought through the use of new detector and signal processing techniques as well as the development of improved image reconstruction algorithms

Presentations:

  1. CVT Workshop at the University of Michigan, October 20 2016

Related Journal Articles:

  1. M.C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, A Poitrasson-Rivière, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, “Localization and spectral isolation of special nuclear material using stochastic image reconstruction,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, vol. 841, pp. 24-33, 2017.
  2. M.C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. Flaska, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, “Stochastic image reconstruction for a dual-particle imaging system,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, vol. 810, pp. 120-131, 2016.
  3. A. Poitrasson-Rivière, J. K. Polack, M. C. Hamel, D. D. Klemm, K. Ito, A. T. McSpaden, M. Flaska, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, A. Tomanin, and P. Peerani, “Angular-Resolution and Material-Characterization Measurements for a Dual-Particle Imaging System with Mixed-Oxide Fuel,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, vol. 797, pp. 278-284, 2015.
  4. A. Poitrasson-Rivière, B. A. Maestas, M. C. Hamel, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, S. A. Pozzi, G. Pausch, C.-M. Herbach, A. Gueorguiev, M. Ohmes, and J. Stein, “Monte Carlo Investigation of a High Efficiency Two-Plane Compton Camera for Long-Range Localization of Radioactive Material,” Progress in Nuclear Energy, vol. 81, pp. 127-133, 2015.
  5. A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, M. Flaska, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, “Dual-Particle imaging system based on simultaneous detection of photon and neutron collision events,” Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A, vol. 760, pp. 40-45, 2014.

Related Conference Proceedings:

  1. S.A. Pozzi, M. C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, M. L. Ruch, T. L. Beames-Canivet, S. D. Clarke, “Dual-Particle Imaging for Treaty Verification,” INMM 57th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA. 24 Jul. – 28 Jul, 2016.
  2. J. Mattingly, et al., “CNEC and CVT Subcritical Experiments with Category I Special Nuclear Material at the Nevada National Security Site Device Assembly Facility,” INMM 57th Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA, USA. 24 Jul. – 28 Jul, 2016.
  3. M.C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, “Stochastic image reconstruction for non-proliferation applications,” IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, San Diego, CA, USA. 31 Oct. – 7 Nov., 2015.
  4. M.C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, D. D. Klemm, M. Flaska, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, A. Tomanin, P. Peerani, “Time-of-Flight Neutron Spectrum Unfolding for Mixed-Oxide Nuclear Fuel and Plutonium Metal Using a Dual-Particle Imager,” IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Seattle, WA, USA. 8 Nov. – 15 Nov, 2014.
  5. J.K. Polack, M. C. Hamel, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, P. Marleau, M. Flaska, S. D. Clarke, S. A. Pozzi, “Spectrum Isolation in Multi-Sources Image Reconstruction Using a Dual-Particle Imager,” INMM 56th Annual Meeting, Indian Wells, CA, USA. 12 Jul. – 16 Jul., 2015.
  6. J.K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. C. Hamel, K. Ito, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, S. A. Pozzi, A. Tomanin, P. Peerani, “Image Reconstruction of Shielded Mixed-Oxide Fuel Using a Dual-Particle Imaging System,” IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Seattle, WA USA. 8 Nov. – 15 Nov, 2014.
  7. M.C. Hamel, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, J. K. Polack, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, S. A. Pozzi, “Design and Analysis of a Two-Plane Dual-Particle Imaging System,” INMM 54th Annual Meeting, Palm Desert, CA, USA. 14 Jul. – 18 Jul, 2013.
  8. J.K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. C. Hamel, M. F. Becchetti, K. Ide, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, and S. A. Pozzi, “Image Reconstruction Using a Three-Plane, Dual-Particle Imager for Standoff Detection of Special Nuclear Material,” IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Anaheim, CA USA. 27 Oct. – 3 Nov, 2012.
  9. A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. Flaska, M. C. Hamel, K. Ide, J. K. Polack, S. D. Clarke, and S. A. Pozzi, “Digital Data Acquisition and Processing for a Neutron-Gamma-Ray Imaging System,” IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record, Anaheim, CA USA. 27 Oct. – 3 Nov, 2012.
  10. M.C. Hamel, M. F. Becchetti, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, J. K. Polack, K. Ide, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, S. A. Pozzi, “Terrestrial and Cosmic Background Radiation Effect on a Dual-Particle Imaging System,” INMM 53rd Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL, USA. 15 Jul. – 19 Jul, 2012.
  11. J.K. Polack, A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. C. Hamel, K. Ide, K. L. McMillan, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, and S. A. Pozzi, “Dual Particle Imager for Standoff Detection of Special Nuclear Material,” Transactions of the IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, October 23 – October 29, Valencia, Spain. 2011.
  12. A. Poitrasson-Rivière, M. C. Hamel, J. K. Polack, K. L. McMillan, K. Ide, S. D. Clarke, M. Flaska, and S. A. Pozzi, “Design Considerations of a Dual-Particle Imager for Non-Proliferation Applications,” INMM 52nd Annual Meeting, 2011.