Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group Round Robin 3 Exercise Results

The Nuclear Forensics International Technical Working Group (ITWG) recently completed Round Robin 3 (RR3), the latest in a series of unique exercises that improve international cooperation and communication in the event of a nuclear material security incident. Experience gathered in past ITWG exercises have been incorporated in IAEA Nuclear Security guidelines documents. During ITWG exercises, laboratories from participating nations are asked to conduct the analysis and evaluation of nuclear materials assessed to be at risk for illicit trafficking. Within these exercises, participants have the opportunity to identify and share best practices concerning nuclear forensic protocols, procedures, and analytical techniques. RR3 was completed in September 2010 at an exercise data review session held in Dijon, France, hosted by the Commissariat á l’Energie Atomique. Nine international laboratories representing Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, European Commission, France, Hungary, United Kingdom, and United States participated on a voluntary basis. Each was assigned a code name by exercise organizers to protect performer anonymity and confidentiality of data. A scenario was constructed in which two separate seizures of nuclear material occurred and forensic analysis was requested by law enforcement to help discern whether seized materials from these two events were related and whether the incidents violated country statutes. As a group, participants discussed the value of the various techniques, and developed a prioritized list of analytical methods most suitable for characterizing and comparing sample types considered in this exercise. The results and protocols derived from the data review discussion are used to continue advancing the ITWG Guideline for Graded Nuclear Forensics Decision Framework. The guideline is a fundamental document, providing laboratories with a standardized framework for interpreting data results on interdicted nuclear materials. Participating laboratories were able to consistently categorize, characterize and perform nuclear forensic evaluations of the exercise materials and draw consensus graded conclusions to the questions posed in the scenario. This talk will discuss the exercise results, a number of accomplishments and areas needing improvement. It is believed that RR3 will spur the interest of other countries to participate in future International Round Robin exercises.