NUCLEAR MATERIAL TRACKING SYSTEM MEASUREMENT CONCEPT AND APPLICATIONS

A concept for a Nuclear Material Tracking System (NTRAK) and details of its operation have been developed at the Westinghouse Hanford Company. The development of NTRAK is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The purpose of NTRAK is to help nuclear facilities meet the performance requirements of DOE Order 5633.3[1). The NTRAK uses multiple nuclear radiation detectors in special configurations to detect and triangulate the position of localized sources of special nuclear material. Once the position of the material is determined, its quantity can also be estimated. This is accomplished using the calibration equations of the detectors and additional information about the nature of the source. Currently, work is being carried out with Nal(Tl) gamma radiation detectors that are shielded with lead on all sides except the front face. This paper describes the theory of NTRAK operation and outlines some of its potential applications to nuclear material control.