Year
2021
Abstract
High value assets, including containers of nuclear material, often require unique identifiers (UIDs) to mitigate the issue of counterfeit or substitution as well as facilitating inventory. These UIDs should be: 1) extremely difficult to counterfeit; 2) robust to environmental conditions; 3) safe and secure for facility and personnel; 4) low maintenance; and 5) easily verified without the use of image comparison techniques. Problems surrounding existing identification include a lack of uniqueness and swift (i.e., electronic) interrogation, making verification difficult, time consuming, and labor intensive. We have developed a new, wireless, Magnetic Smart Tag (MaST) technology for uniquely identifying nuclear materials and other high value assets. MaST is comprised of passive, magnetic alloy resonator arrays vibrating at multiple resonant frequencies when excited with low-frequency alternating current (AC) magnetic fields creating a unique, nonreproducible, complex signature. The identity of a MaST, including its authenticity and integrity, can be verified in situ by a near field magnetic reader. Unlike radio frequency tags, MaST operates magnetically at low, operationally safe strengths. This UID, due to its small size, i.e., centimeters to inches, can be unobtrusively attached externally or intrinsically incorporated into the walls of new and existing nuclear fuel containers and equipment depending on parameters such as wall material, thickness, and skin depth. This protects the MaST from damage and prevents easy access to tampering. MaST is passive, i.e., no batteries required, stable, and robust, thus providing a long service life. MaST signatures depend on resonator geometry rather than electronic memory enabling its survival in radiation environments. MaST will be targeted towards applications of interest such as spent fuel rod storage and radiological sources such as those employed for medical diagnostics and well logging.