Remote Detection Capabilities Development at USA National Laboratories for Nuclear Material Management

The National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development (DNN R&D) remote detection portfolio has a vision for developing technology that will provide unobtrusive surveillance with instantaneous accountability regarding the monitoring of nuclear material and nuclear material plant operations. The USA national laboratories are the pinnacle of science and technology evolution, and DNN R&D leverages the personnel and facilities to pursue emerging capabilities to meet current and future goals of the nuclear nonproliferation community. This paper will discuss the Remote Detection portfolio’s funding thrusts at the labs: quantum-enhanced sensing, complex chemical kinetics modeling, low-power edge sensing, and novel computational paradigms. The long-term technology development vision will build capabilities that will position the US Government to better monitor and characterize nuclear facilities and fuel cycle activities for the next decade.