Use of Electromagnetic Coil for Safety and Security Activities

To provide for the safety and security of fissile materials in the process of nuclear weapons dismantlement, technologies based on non-radiation physics principles are being investigated. This paper describes the results of numerical and experimental investigations for the inspection of objects disposed of and sealed inside an AT-400 container. The investigation consists of the design, development and production of an electromagnetic coil for experimental investigations; adaptation and enhancement of the measurement technique; performance of measurement of coil impedance on a variety of fissile and nonfissile metallic objects; and comparison of experimental and numerically simulated coil impedance values. The method generally appears to have a reasonable degree of non-intrusiveness, but study results suggest that the application of an information barrier could be warranted. The results of the study suggest that the method is not yet ready for practical application during inspections.