In response to Department of Energy (DOE) SBIR Topic 4a ����������������Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Space Applications: Shielding of Electronic Circuits for Space Radiation via Additive Manufacturing���������������, Advanced Cooling Technologies, Inc. (ACT) will work with North Carolina State University (NCSU) on the proposed project entitled ����������������Polymer-Based Conformal Space Radiation Shield with Thermal Management Manufactured by Five-Axis 3D Printing Platform���������������. The proposed project aims to fabricate a multi-layered, conformal space radiation shield using the multi-axis 3D printing platform. Micro/nano-particles and fibers will be added to the polymer for enhanced heat transfer and radiation attenuation performances.

NC State will investigate the utility of thermal and optically stimulated luminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance as new tools for nuclear forensics. The NSCU scope is motivated by the need to develop new forensics methods that can measure how long a special nuclear material (SNM) was in a given location, the spatial distribution of the SNM in a container, and the age of a SNM. This work will improve the ability to characterize the production and storage history of radiological materials.

The overarching goas of this project are: (1) to educate the next generation of nuclear physicists with expertise in performing photon-induced fission measurements on actinide nuclei; (2) to contribute to the modernization of the database for photon-induced fission using the unique features of the High Intensity Gamma-ray Source (HilS) at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory (TUNL), e.g., adding data for. quantities measured using the mono��������� energetic and polarized gamma-ray beam at HilS; and (3) to develop techniques and instrumentation that enable new types of measurements. The proposed research has two parts. We will perform measurements of the yields of short-lived isotopes from photon-induced fission of actinide nuclei that are important to the mission of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Our research in this area is producing the first data for fission product yields (FPY) from fission induced with a mono-energetic gamma-ray beam. The proposed work will extend our current measurements of FPY of isotopes with half-lives greater than about 30 minutes to isotopes with half-lives less than 60 seconds. Specifically, we will develop the capabilities for and performing measurements of FPY of isotopes with half-lives in the range of 1 to 60 seconds for photon-induced fission of Uranium-235, Uranium-238, Plutium-239 and Plutium-240. In addition to the FPY measurements, we will develop a system for measuring the angular distribution and energy spectrum of prompt neutrons emitted from fission induced with a linearly polarized and mono-energetic gamma-ray beam. The system will consist of an array of liquid scintillators to detect the neutrons and a gas scintillator target chamber to tag the fission events by detection of the fission fragments. The system capabilities will be demonstrated by measuring the prompt neutron energy spectrum at several angles for photon-induced fission of Uranium-238.

NC State University, in partnership with University of Michigan, Purdue University, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Kansas State University, Georgia Institute of Technology, NC A&T State University, Los Alamos National Lab, Oak Ridge National Lab, and Pacific Northwest National lab, proposes to establish a Consortium for Nonproliferation Enabling Capabilities (CNEC). The vision of CNEC is to be a pre-eminent research and education hub dedicated to the development of enabling technologies and technical talent for meeting the grand challenges of nuclear nonproliferation in the next decade. CNEC research activities are divided into four thrust areas: 1) Signatures and Observables (S&O); 2) Simulation, Analysis, and Modeling (SAM); 3) Multi-source Data Fusion and Analytic Techniques (DFAT); and 4) Replacements for Potentially Dangerous Industrial and Medical Radiological Sources (RDRS). The goals are: 1) Identify and directly exploit signatures and observables (S&O) associated with special nuclear material (SNM) production, storage, and movement; 2) Develop simulation, analysis, and modeling (SAM) methods to identify and characterize SNM and facilities processing SNM; 3) Apply multi-source data fusion and analytic techniques to detect nuclear proliferation activities; and 4) Develop viable replacements for potentially dangerous existing industrial and medical radiological sources. In addition to research and development activities, CNEC will implement educational activities with the goal to develop a pool of future nuclear non-proliferation and other nuclear security professionals and researchers.

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University (NCSU) has benefited from three faculty development awards so far and the results are a glaring success. The first cohort of three junior faculty supported by the first award won in 2008 are successfully advancing their academic careers: one earned his tenure as Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering in 2012, one was promoted from Assistant Professor to tenured Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering in 2013and the third has cleared the Departmental and the College review levels this year with very strong support on both levels. His case now is under consideration by the University������������������s Promotion and Tenure Committee expected to reach a final decision in May 2014. Given the strongly positive recommendations by the Department and College levels we anticipate a positive decision to promote the candidate to Associate Professor of Nuclear Engineering with tenure. Similarly, the faculty development awards won in 2010 and in 2011 have been put to excellent use by two faculty members, one of whom has been reappointed very recently to a second three-year term as Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering, the second is preparing for his tenure review as Associate Professor next academic year. The latter faculty member������������������s case is going very strong. The funding provided by NRC������������������s Faculty Development Program plays a pivotal role in the achieved success.