Enabling Technology and Innovation (ETI) Thrust Areas

Thrust area 1 — Computer & Engineering Sciences for nonproliferation 

In Thrust Area 1, computer and data scientists, nuclear and aerospace engineers, chemists, and biologists take advantage of new-age computational and hardware capabilities in data science and remote detection. Humans and machines join forces to determine solutions to the NNSA’s problems of tomorrow. Thrust Area 1 delivers advanced computing techniques including machine learning and automated agents for data collection to discover new marvels hidden in unstructured environments, with a focus to address a new era in additive manufacturing (AD).

thrust area 2 — advanced manufacturing for nonproliferation

Thrust Area 2 focuses on Advanced Manufacturing for Nonproliferation and is supported by material scientists, nuclear engineers, and specialists in maker communities to address the most challenging needs in enabling technologies to determine unique signatures, resulting from the use of advanced manufacturing. Increasing hardware and software efficiency in radiation sensor electronics is a critical step in enabling the capability to solve problems that have yet to occur. Detectors and biological sensors could become promising tools to aid with the detection of proliferation and present a transformative approach to instrumentation. 

thrust area 3 — Novel instrumentation for nuclear fuel cycle monitoring

Thrust Area 3 brings together an integrated collaborative effort of Chemistry, Physics, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Materials Sciences, Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Forest & Wildlife Ecology, and Nuclear and Radiological Engineering to focus on novel instrumentation to leverage the modern capabilities in microelectronics, solid state technologies, and alternative radiation detection materials including biota.

Monitoring, Technology, and Verification (MTV) Thrust Areas

Thrust Area 1 — Fundamentals of Nuclear and Particle Physics

Thrust Area 1 seeks to enhance the understanding of fundamental physical processes to improve the technologies for the detection of those processes. The goal is to communicate the impact that these methods and technologies can have on real-world inspection, monitoring, and verification capabilities. This thrust area develops enabling science ideas and drives technological developments to address three major nuclear nonproliferation research and development needs.

1. The processes underlying nuclear fission and low-energy nuclear reactions are studied to bridge several important gaps in understanding relevant to proliferation detection.
2. The fundamental physics and technology of antineutrino detection as a promising remote reactor discovery and monitoring technique is explored in support of the long-term goals of the Advanced Instrumentation Testbed (AIT).
3. Closer range monitoring and verification applications, novel techniques are pursued to detect, image, and characterize fissile material, in both shielded and unshielded configurations, using neutrons, gamma rays, and cosmic-ray muons.

Engineering to focus on novel instrumentation to leverage the modern capabilities in microelectronics, solid state technologies, and alternative radiation detection materials including biota.

Thrust Area 2 — Signals and Source Terms for Nuclear Nonproliferation

In this Thrust Area, new methods are studied that will enable the detection of signatures of nuclear proliferation activities by foreign states. Research and development activities are performed in pre-detonation isotopic science, including new methods to characterize SNM, remote detection using laser-based techniques, and environmental monitoring, including the study of biota, to detect illicit enrichment processes and other undeclared fuel cycle activities.

Thrust Area 3 — Nuclear Explosion Monitoring

In this Thrust Area, we will explore new methods to enhance national capabilities in nuclear explosion diagnostics. The relevant signals arise from infrasound, seismic, radionuclide, and environmental monitoring. This thrust area will address needs in infrasound, seismic, and radioxenon monitoring of nuclear explosions.

As evidenced in the analysis of the DPRK nuclear tests, it is difficult to accurately characterize low-yield explosions. There is an urgency to improve detection, localization, and characterization capabilities to quickly verify the nature of a detected explosion/event, in order to unambiguously determine whether it was a nuclear test, a chemical explosion, or an earthquake.

Consortium for Nuclear Forensics (CNF) Thrust Areas

• Rapid Turnaround Forensics, led by Professor Brian Powell of Clemson University, will study methods to shorten chemical analysis techniques to 24 hours or less.​​
• ​​​Advanced Analytical Methods, led by Associate Professor Assel Aitkaliyeva of UF, will develop improved material characterization and microscopy techniques​​.
• Ultrasensitive Measurements, led by Associate Professor Nicole Martinez of Clemson, will investigate methods in environmental sampling and instrumentation to look at low-level signals.​​
• Signature Discovery, led by Assistant Professor Amanda Johnsen of Penn State University, will determine if new signals and measurements can lead to improved accuracy in determining material quantities.
• Prompt Effects and Measurements, led by Assistant Professor Kyle Hartig of UF, will seek to understand signals given off following a nuclear detonation.