Dr. Charles “Gus” Potter
Systems Research Analyst
Sandia National Laboratories

Abstract

Americium-241-beryllium sources of radioactivities below the 10 CFR Part 37 category 2 threshold of 16 Ci are commonly used for well-logging in the oil and gas industry.  If a source were obtained for use in a radiological dispersal device and explosively dispersed, resuspended particulate could cause committed effective dose to exposed individuals and associated risk.  Resuspension since is not well-understood, and mathematical functions have been derived based on data compiled from unrelated experiments without consideration of physical and chemical properties or even the same element or proper surrogate.  Sandia National Laboratories has conducted or co-led five studies examining resuspension and suspension properties of AmBe particulate or surrogate beginning in 2017.  Results of these research activities are not conclusive, but show the necessity of development of a better understanding of resuspension and other AmBe risk.

Biography

As a Systems Research Analyst at Sandia National Laboratories, Dr. Gus Potter provides technical analysis to U.S. government agencies by conducting end-to-end systems studies and providing expertise in the radiological and nuclear threat and security areas. He has led studies on radiological and nuclear detection architecture, adversarial threat and risk, radiological consequences, and material properties and risk that have influenced national policy on the protection of source material and detection strategies, briefed U.S. Congressional subcommittees on the radiological and nuclear threat, and participated in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) working groups to devise new international security standards.

In his previous work, Dr. Potter was responsible for both internal and external radiation dosimetry, including interpretation of radiobioassay models and measurements and implementation of thermoluminescent dosimetry technologies.

Dr. Potter also serves as an adjunct professor in the University of New Mexico Nuclear Engineering Department. He is active in the American Academy of Health Physics as President Elect, the Health Physics Society, and previously served as Chair, Board Member, and Panel Chair of the American Board of Health Physics. Dr. Potter participates in standards activities including acting as Vice Chair of the ANSI/HPS Accredited Standards Committee N13 and on three working groups of the International Organization for Standardization. His serves as an associate editor and regular reviewer for Health Physics and as a regular reviewer for Radiation Protection Dosimetry, and has written or contributed to over sixty technical reports and articles for various publications.

In 2000, Dr. Potter earned his PhD in physics at the University of Massachusetts, where he studied applications of internal radiation dosimetry models promulgated by the International Commission on Radiological Protection. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Health Physics, certified in 1997 and re-certified through 2017, and a Fellow of the Health Physics Society.

Thursday, January 20. 2022
4:00 pm seminar

Hybrid Option  (Speaker is remote)

zoom (link upon request)
or
Room 1202 Burlington Labs