Third Generation Trusted Radiation Identification System (3G-TRIS)

The Third Generation Trusted Radiation Identification System (3G-TRIS) is the next iteration of the Trusted Radiation Identification System (TRIS), which includes the original system from 2001 and the Next Generation TRIS (NG-TRIS) completed in 2011. 3G-TRIS maintains the original intent and functionality of the system to perform gamma-ray spectrum template matching for arms-control or treaty verification scenarios. It relies on a split redside/black-side architecture where all sensitive information is handled by the red side and the black side acts as an information barrier by only allowing non-sensitive messages to pass between the sides. Improvements made in the new system focused on updates to modern computing architecture, reconfiguration of the tamper-indicating enclosures (TIE), user safety, and facilitating equipment authentication and certification. Some of the key features include the combination of the detector and the red side as well as the user interface with the black side. The sides were also physically separated into two different TIEs, whereas in NG-TRIS the sides are contained in the same TIE. The use of high voltage was eliminated, improving user safety, by collecting scintillator output with silicon photomultipliers instead of a traditional photomultiplier tube. To aid authentication and certification, the printed circuit boards in both the red and black sides were oriented parallel to the axis of the enclosure to facilitate radiography as an inspection technique. This paper discusses the updates made to create the 3G-TRIS system and how they improved the system for application to treaty monitoring and verification.