Engineering Commons^™

Principles Of Tomographic Measurements And Reconstruction, Bernadette Evelyn Brezinski

Masters Theses

X-ray computed tomography (CT) plays a crucial role in enhancing national security through its use in active interrogation of any miscellaneous object across various environments. The use of x-ray active interrogation can give insight on the structure of an object and its material density to provide an effective means of detecting potential threats in a wide range of objects. A small and lightweight portable CT device that can address highly sensitive inputs is constructed to perform active interrogation. Preprocessing analysis is performed to calibrate for irregularities in pixel values, detector current, tilt corrections, and more. Full image acquisitions are obtained …

Remote Laboratory For Nuclear Security Education, Anthony R. Galindo, Craig Marianno

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Laboratory experiences for online students are very limited. To fill this gap, educators in the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University developed a series of radiation detection experiments for their remote students. Radiation detection is only one piece of nuclear security. The objective of the current research is to describe the development and execution of three online laboratories that investigate the basic application of physical security sensors that use light, ultrasonics, and heat to detect adversaries. This laboratory complements lecture material from the department’s Nuclear Security System and Design course. Using the Remote Desktop Application, students connect to …

A Security Approach For The Example Sodium Fast Reactor, Christian X. Young, Robert S. Bean

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Increases in the spread of nuclear technology and the rise of non-state terrorism in the modern era has proved the need for effective security approaches to new nuclear facilities. Many documents about security approaches for nuclear plants are non-public material, however, making it difficult to teach others about the basics of security design. To alleviate this issue, we used available texts in the security realm to design a security approach for the Generation IV International Forum’s Example Sodium Fast Reactor. Our approach utilized infrared, microwave, fiber optic, and other advanced technologies to provide security for the special nuclear material present. …

Creating And Operating The Nuclear Urban Kinetics Effects Simulator, Jerrad Phillip Auxier

Doctoral Dissertations

The ability to create an accurate method for determining the composition of post-detonation debris in an urban environment is an essential component of a proper nuclear forensics program. The methods necessary to create a high fidelity computer for modeling urban debris matrix creation is addressed. These methods include detonations varying in location in the lower 48 continental states and the yield of the weapon.

The ultimate goal of the research conducted in this area is to provide the nuclear forensics community with an effects modeling code that generates accurate urban surrogate recipes to be analyzed in laboratories. This code can …

Nuclear Security Culture And Batan’S Assessment: Batan’S Experience, Anhar R. Antariksawan

International Journal of Nuclear Security

Organizations should increase safety to minimize the harmful effects of nuclear materials. Additionally, organizations should take measures to protect security culture within the organization itself. This paper covers the National Nuclear Energy Agency of Indonesia’s (BATAN’s) promotion of nuclear security culture and self- assessment projects, which is based on the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) methodology.

The Utility Of Table-Top Exercises In Teaching Nuclear Security, Christopher Hobbs, Luca Lentini, Matthew Moran

International Journal of Nuclear Security

In the emerging field of nuclear security, those responsible for education and training are constantly seeking to identify and engage with tools and approaches that provide for a constructive learning environment. In this context, this paper explores the nature and value of Tabletop exercises (TTX) and how they can be applied in the nuclear security context. On the one hand, the paper dissects the key components of the TTX and considers the broader pedagogical benefits of this teaching method. On the other hand, the paper draws lessons from the authors’ experience of running TTXs as part of nuclear security professional …

Development Of A National Human Reliability Program (Hrp) Model For An Emerging Nuclear Country: Nigerian Case Study, Stephen Olumuyiwa Ariyo Dahunsi

Masters Theses

The current demand for electricity and concern of the climate change in emerging countries has led to the rise in the number of nations adopting nuclear technology options. Besides this, the global rise in terrorism and the existence of credible threats in Nigeria and other emerging countries embarking on nuclear program for peaceful application may pose a critical challenge in implementation of this technology. Furthermore, the dual threat issue of providing electricity, while inadvertently producing weapon and radiological material that could similarly undermine international security must be mitigated. In order to achieve the mitigation target, it is highly important to …

The Nuclear Security Science And Policy Institute At Texas A&M University, Claudio A. Gariazzo, Kelley H. Ragusa, David R. Boyle, William S. Charlton, Sunil S. Chirayath, Craig M. Marianno, Paul Nelson Jr.

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI) is a multidisciplinary organization at Texas A&M University and was the first U.S. academic institution focused on technical graduate education, research, and service related to the safeguarding of nuclear materials and the reduction of nuclear threats. NSSPI employs science, engineering, and policy expertise to: (1) conduct research and development to help detect, prevent, and reverse nuclear and radiological proliferation and guard against nuclear terrorism; (2) educate the next generation of nuclear security and nuclear nonproliferation leaders; (3) analyze the interrelationships between policy and technology in the field of nuclear security; and (4) …

Trends. The Ins And Outs Of Nuclear Nonproliferation: The Case Of Georgia, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the strong case that can be made that the essence of all foreign policy matters involves the most basic of psychological boundaries: between the "me" and "not me".

Trends. The Cassini Mission To Saturn: Plutonium As Propaganda, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the plutonium-carrying Cassini mission to Saturn.

Do Not As I Say And Not As I Do: The Problem Of Tritium, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses the manufacture and use of tritium for nuclear warheads.