Berkeley Nuclear Research Center

Investigation of electron-track Compton Imaging using high spatial resolution silicon detectors
Principal Investigator: Dr. Kai Vetter, University of California, Berkeley

The current limitation in Compton imaging systems is the inability to measure Compton electron trajectories. Using only the knowledge of only the angle of ?-ray scatter, a cone of possible incident trajectories is created by a lack of knowledge of the electron scatter angle. Since the incident photon, scattered photon, and scattered electron are co-planar, sensing the electron trajectory can greatly reduce the systematic background that exists in Compton gamma-ray imaging systems.

Machine Vision Radiation Detection
Principle Investigator: Dr. James Siegrist, University of California, Berkeley

There are many situations where radiation detectors are implemented alongside real-time video streams. This research seeks to identify a methodology of combining visual and spectroscopic data in ways that increase detection sensitivity.

Pre-detonation Nuclear Forensics

The standards for security of nuclear materials have been written such that a high degree of interpretation of the standards exist based in part by individual states’ perception of the nuclear terrorist risk and the cost/benefit of implementing higher standards. It is clear from the amount of interdicted materials on the black market that nuclear facilities exist under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime that are most likely not secure enough. Pre-detonation nuclear forensics promises to hold states accountable for a lack of security by the attribution of interdicted materials to a state or facility combined with an expectation of international action. The first step in the realization of a global nuclear forensics effort is the development of domestic unclassified nuclear forensics laboratories that work to build a database of signatures and perform research and new signature development.

Doctorate of Philosophy
Nuclear Engineering
Dissertation: “Advanced Modeling Techniques for Signal Decomposition of Planar Double-Sided Strip Detectors”
Research Advisor: Dr. Kai Vetter, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Academic Advisor: Dr. Stanley Prussin, Nuclear Engineering Department

Minor Concentrations:
Complex System Risk Assessment & Management
-Terrorist Network Emergence: A Study in Risk Management

Energy and National Security Policy
-Proliferation Security Initiative: A Policy Analysis
-Market Based Approaches to Energy and Environmental Protection

Bachelor of Science
Nuclear and Electrical Engineering

Areas of Concentration:
-Interaction of radiation with matter
-Signal processing and control systems
-Particle transport modeling

Research:
Compton Imaging using Time Projection Chambers
Design of Neutron Beam Shaping Assembly using MCNP

United States Navy
Naval Nuclear Power School, Orlando, FL 1993

Areas of Concentration:
Nuclear physics
Reactor operations
Reactor Instrumentation

University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Lecturer – “Neutron Transport”
Developed additional lectures for undergraduate course in neutron transport.

Naval Nuclear Staff Instructor, Idaho National Laboratory
Developed seminars on physics of a naval nuclear power plant.
Trained nuclear power pipeline students in operation & maintenance procedures.

“Before the Day After: Using Pre-Detonation Nuclear Forensics to Improve Fissile Material Security”, July, 2008, Arms Control Today.
“Advanced Modeling Techniques for Signal Decomposition of Planar HPGe Double-Sided Strip Detectors”, 2006, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium San Diego
“Model Simulations of 3D Gamma-Ray Imaging for Nuclear Safeguards”, 2006 ,INMM Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN.
“First-Generation Hybrid Compact Compton Imager”, 2005, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Fajardo, PR.
“Imaging Performance of the Si/Ge Hybrid Compton Imager”, 2005, IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium, Fajardo, PR.
“A Compact BNCT Facility using a Fusion Neutron Source and a Fission Multiplier”, presented at 2002 ANS, Washington D.C. (2002). Awarded Winner of the ANS National Student Design Competition.