US DOE PR on CTBT Verification Monitoring

[Mike Grissom <mikeg@SLAC.Stanford.EDU>]

Radsafers,

The following US DOE Press Release may be of interest
to those interested in monitoring radionuclides in the
atmosphere:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 27, 1998

NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Kielich, DOE/HQ, 202/586-5806
Staci West, PNNL, 509/372-6313

         Breakthrough Systems to Detect
Nuclear Explosions Worldwide

Scientists at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory in Richland, WA, have developed two
breakthrough devices that can detect nuclear detonations by
analyzing the atmosphere for traces of radioactive
material. These systems, once activated, will be located
around the globe and used to monitor the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) by detecting nuclear
explosions.

President Clinton has determined that nonproliferation of
nuclear weapons is one of the nation's highest priorities.
The Department of Energy is responsible for the United
States' research and development to monitor nuclear
explosions in the context of a test ban treaty. The Energy
Department provides technological and analytical support
to guard against the spread of nuclear weapons and
weapons-usable materials and has long been actively
involved in preventing proliferation of nuclear weapons
technology and protecting nuclear material and facilities.

"These new technologies enhance the ability of the United
States and the international community to detect and
confirm nuclear explosions," said Under Secretary of
Energy Ernest Moniz. "This advancement in our ability to
verify nuclear tests creates more impetus for Senate debate
and vote to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban
Treaty."

ARSA / RASA

The two new detonation identification devices represent a
quantum leap beyond existing monitoring devices, with
greater sensitivity, full automation, near real-time
reporting, and novel nuclear radiation detectors.

ARSA, the Automated Radioxenon Sampler/Analyzer, and RASA,
the Radionuclide Aerosol Sampler/Analyzer, were created to
verify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban-Treaty. An
international monitoring system is being set up to use the
latest technology to watch for evidence that nuclear
weapons are being tested. ARSA and RASA will comprise a
large part of the technology employed in an 80-station
radionuclide network.

"ARSA is the most valuable radionuclide detection method
available to the CTBT," said Ted Bowyer, Pacific Northwest
principal investigator for ARSA. "These two systems allow
us to capture a tiny part of the weapon. Radionuclides are
a smoking gun. They are positive confirmation of recent
nuclear fission."

ARSA analyzes air samples for radioactive xenon, or
radioxenon, that seeps from underground nuclear
explosions – the most common testing method today but the
most difficult to detect. ARSA has a detection sensitivity
10 to 100 times greater than other systems being used. In
addition, it is the only completely automated radioactive
xenon monitor.

ARSA collects air samples, then processes them to trap the
radioactive xenon on cold charcoal. The system purifies
the radioactive xenon, then transfers it to a nuclear
counting system. The different isotopes of xenon are
automatically measured, then the results are automatically
passed to a data center by communication link. ARSA can be
accessed by modem and programmed remotely.

RASA detects fission products from atmospheric nuclear
explosions. This basic technique has been available for 30
years, but Pacific Northwest researchers have created the
most sensitive automated system ever – more than 100 times
as sensitive as the best previous technology.

RASA filters a huge volume of air each day to check for
evidence of fission products from a nuclear explosion that
attach to dust particles. The automated system draws air
through a series of filters, which remove practically all
of the atmospheric particles. The filters are sealed, bar
coded, then passed to a radiation detection system.
Radiation from weapons debris is then registered and
translated to prove a violation of the treaty.

Information collected by ARSA, RASA and other monitoring
systems at the global stations will be passed on to an
international data center – a prototype is currently
located in Arlington, VA, and planned for permanent
housing in Vienna, Austria as part of the Comprehensive
Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty's international monitoring system.
The other systems under development or in use include
seismic, infrasound and hydroacoustic monitors.

Development of both RASA and ARSA is sponsored by the
Energy Department's Office of Nonproliferation and National
Security with the goal of transferring the technology to
commercial vendors so that any country can acquire the
systems to meet its obligations under the CTBT.

Pacific Northwest is one of the Department of Energy's nine
multiprogram national laboratories and conducts research in
the fields of environment, energy, health sciences and
national security. Battelle, based in Columbus, OH, has
operated Pacific Northwest for DOE since 1965.

- DOE -

L-98-030

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The above may be viewed on the Web at URL:

http://www.doe.gov/news/releases98/julpr/prl98030.htm