Detecting terrorist nuclear weapons at sea: The 10th door problem

[摘要] While screening commercial cargo containers for the possible presence of WMD is important and necessary smugglers have successfully exploited the many other vehicles transporting cargo into the US including medium and small vessels at sea. These vessels provide a venue that is currently not screened and widely used. Physics limits that make screening of large vessels prohibitive impractical do not prohibit effective screening of the smaller vessels. While passive radiation detection is probably ineffective at sea active interrogation may provide a successful approach. The physics limits of active interrogation of ships at sea from standoff platforms are discussed. Autonomous platforms that could carry interrogation systems at sea, both airborne and submersible, are summarized and their utilization discussed. An R&D program to investigate the limits of this approach to screening ships at sea is indicated and limitations estimated.

[发布日期] 2008-09-15

[学科分类] 核物理和高能物理

[关键词] CARGO;CONTAINERS;NUCLEAR WEAPONS;PHYSICS;RADIATION DETECTION;SEAS