PNNL

Brian Archambault is a physicist and data analytics team leader for the Applied Radiation Detection group of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) focusing on the development of conventional and unconventional spectroscopic radiation sensors and data scientific techniques targeted for use in a wide range of arenas, including nuclear forensics, nuclear data, nuclear explosion monitoring, and nuclear safeguards and security. Since joining PNNL in 2019, Archambault’s contributions have been instrumental to the development of multi-particle (γ-α-β-γ) coincident radiation detection systems resulting in three invention disclosures with direct impact on the national technical nuclear forensics and nuclear explosion monitoring missions at the international level.

Prior to joining PNNL, Archambault has over 14 years of experience in research focused towards research and development of tensioned metastable fluid detector-based radiation sensor systems, including a 6 year span in which he directed development and commercialization as manager of technology development at Sagamore Adams Laboratories, LLC, collaborating with academia and industry partners on the deployment of tensioned metastable fluid detectors for a portable special nuclear material interdiction system using active neutron interrogation. 

Archambault’s scientific contributions has resulted in more than 60 archival publications and the award of two U.S. patents titled, “Systems and methods for interrogating containers for special nuclear material” (U.S. Patent 10,718,874) and “Direction-position sensing fast neutron detector” (U.S. Patent 9,348,039). Archambault received his BS in applied physics in 2007, followed by a PhD in nuclear engineering in 2012—both from Purdue University.

• Post detonation nuclear forensics
• Nuclear detection and instrumentation
• Radiation detection equipment
• Machine learning
• Gamma spectroscopy
• Radiation portal monitoring
• Radiation transport modeling

• PhD in nuclear engineering, Purdue University
• MS in nuclear engineering, Purdue University
• BS in applied physics, Purdue University

• Chair, IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society, Richland Section, 2022 – present
• IEEE Member, 2012 – present
• Vice-Chair, IEEE Nuclear and Plasma Sciences Society, Richland Section, 2020 – 2022

• Outstanding Performance Award, PNNL, 2023
• “Of the Year” Award Nominee, Innovation in Research Team, PNNL, 2021

2023

• Hagen A.R., B.C. Archambault, C. Harabagiu, I. Pantoja Garcia, and R. Taleyarkhan. 2023. "Further experimental evidence of the photon insensitivity and robustness of tensioned metastable fluid detectors in high intensity or high energy photon fields." Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science. PNNL-SA-190499.

2022

• Archambault B.C., N.E. Uhnak, B.D. Pierson, G.M. Spitler, and J.H. Estrada. 2022. Improvements to the 115g/115mCd Nuclear Data. PNNL-32563. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
• Hemesath M., N. Boyle, B.C. Archambault, T.H. Lorier, D.P. Diprete, and R. Taleyarkhan. 2022. "Actinide in Air (Rn-Progeny Rejected) Alpha Spectroscopy with Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors." Journal of Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science 8, no. 2:Art. No. 022001; Paper No. NERS-20-1188. PNNL-SA-156567. doi:10.1115/1.4049729
• Collins S., C. Gilligan, B.D. Pierson, N. Ramirez, M. Goodwin, A. Pearce, and B.C. Archambault, et al. 2022. "Determination of the Tb-161 half-life." Applied Radiation and Isotopes 182. PNNL-SA-167400. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2022.110140
• Ozerov S., A.R. Hagen, B.C. Archambault, A. Sansone, N. Boyle, T.F. Grimes, and N. Rancilio, et al. 2022. "Clinical 6 MV X-Ray Facility Photo-Neutron/Fission Interrogations with TMFD Sensors." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 1029. PNNL-SA-168849. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2022.166395
• Johns J.M., B.C. Archambault, B.E. Bernacki, K.C. Gorecke, T.W. Hossbach, M.S. Hughes, and E.J. Krogstad, et al. 2022. Detection of Marine Borne Radioactive Sources Report. PNNL-33516. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
• Pierson B.D., B.C. Archambault, L.R. Greenwood, M.M. Haney, M.G. Cantaloub, A.R. Hagen, and S.M. Herman, et al. 2022. "Alpha/Beta-gated Gamma-Gamma Spectroscopy of Mixed Fission Products for Trace Analysis." Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry 331, no. 12:5453–5467. PNNL-SA-172636. doi:10.1007/s10967-022-08606-5

2021

• Loer B.M., B.C. Archambault, E.S. Fuller, and B.D. Pierson. 2021. A Radiation-Shielded, Shallow Underground, Long-Coherence Time Quantum Qubit Concept. PNNL-31996. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

2020

• Boyle N., B.C. Archambault, and R. Taleyarkhan. 2020. "High Energy Photo-Neutron Interrogation of Uranium with Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors." In Sensors & Transducers, 245, 36-40. PNNL-SA-153227.
• Taleyarkhan R., B.C. Archambault, A. Sansone, T.F. Grimes, and A.R. Hagen. 2020. "Neutron Spectroscopy & H*10 Dosimetry with Tensioned Metastable Fluid Detectors." Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research. Section A, Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment 959. PNNL-SA-146957. doi:10.1016/j.nima.2019.163278