UAF receives funding to enhance nuclear proliferation detection
Rod Boyce
907-474-7185
Aug. 19, 2024
The University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks has been named to a group of 12 universities tasked by the federal government with improving and expanding the nation色视频下载檚 detection of nuclear weapons proliferation.
The U.S. Department of Energy色视频下载檚 National Nuclear Security Administration has awarded two groups of universities a combined $50 million over five years for research related to the agency色视频下载檚 nuclear security and nonproliferation missions. The universities will partner with the Department of Energy色视频下载檚 national laboratories.
UAF is in a group of 12 universities led by Georgia Tech. A second group, of 15 universities, is led by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
A field engineer of the Wilson 色视频下载 Technical Center at the UAF Geophysical Institute services a portable infrasound monitoring station near Palmer Station, Antarctica.
UAF色视频下载檚 portion of the funding will come to the Geophysical Institute and will fully fund two graduate student researchers for five years, one working with the and the other with the .
The Wilson 色视频下载 Technical Center operates nearly two dozen that provide data used for monitoring nuclear proliferation, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. It supports the U.S. Department of Defense色视频下载檚 nuclear proliferation monitoring and compliance with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
UAF色视频下载檚 work will focus on improving detection of smaller activities that could be associated with the spread of nuclear weapons.
色视频下载淭raditionally in seismology and infrasound we色视频下载檝e focused on large explosions,色视频下载 said David Fee, the Wilson 色视频下载 Technical Center色视频下载檚 director. 色视频下载淚f North Korea sets off a nuclear explosion, we record the seismic and infrasound signals.色视频下载
色视频下载淚n this new group, our research will be looking to create methods to detect some of the other activities associated with nuclear proliferation such as mining or running a reactor,色视频下载 he said. 色视频下载淲e want to be able to detect geophysical signals of nuclear proliferation activity that aren色视频下载檛 big explosions.色视频下载
Advanced seismic monitoring can distinguish between an earthquake and a nuclear explosion based on the seismic waveforms and the nature of the ground shaking.
Infrasound refers to sound waves with frequencies generally below the lower limit of human hearing. Nuclear explosions generate infrasound directly from the explosive event, resulting in a sharp, clear signal onset that is stronger and has a higher amplitude compared to most natural events.
Signals from smaller events will be difficult to detect because they are weaker, meaning sensors using current technology would need to be closer to the source. Some of those may be in nations hostile to the United States, making it necessary to have a means of detecting those lesser events from a great distance.
The goal for the funding coming to the Wilson 色视频下载 Technical Center and the 色视频下载 Earthquake Center is to improve technology for working at closer range and to detect smaller events, including low-yield nuclear detonations, from afar.
色视频下载淲e are always trying to push the boundaries of both,色视频下载 said Michael West, director of the 色视频下载 Earthquake Center. 色视频下载淲e want to be able to detect and assess smaller events of all types. And we want to be able to do that from as far away as we can, because we will never have instruments everywhere, especially in conflict and denied areas.色视频下载
色视频下载淚t is absolutely the goal of this project to push down our current detection limits,色视频下载 he said.
The Wilson 色视频下载 Technical Center and 色视频下载 Earthquake Center perform nuclear proliferation monitoring work in part through the Defense Department-designated University Affiliated Research Center at the Geophysical Institute. UAF is one of 15 UARCs nationwide and the only one charged with the geophysical detection of nuclear proliferation.
Funding is through the National Nuclear Security Administration色视频下载檚 Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation.
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: David Fee, 907-474-7564, dfee1@alaska.edu; Michael West, 907-474-6977, mewest@alaska.edu.
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