Publications Details

In-Device Delay: Introduction to Obscurant Physcial Protection System

Thompson, Andrew D.; Kuca, Michal

The Office of Radiological Security (ORS) In-Device Delay (IDD) program has undertaken a project to research and develop a novel protection system for industrial irradiators that contain high-activity Co-60 sources. Based on adversary testing conducted by ORS, it is was determined that to successfully accomplish the theft of the target material, the adversary will require visual contact of the sources and source rack located at the bottom of the pool. Therefore, if a means of obscuring or visually hiding the sources in the pool can be achieved (while adhering to facility operations, safety, and regulatory requirements), then illicit source theft will be significantly hindered. This project aims to develop a low-cost, non-propriety obscurant that, when an adversary action is detected, the obscurant will be deployed into the pool quickly, rendering visual observation of the source problematic; however, this obscurant will not otherwise disturb the sources, source rack, and filtration system. The obscurant will remain in the pool until removed by another process.