Technical Sessions

Track Organizers: Sam Glover, Technical Program Chair; and Steve LaMont, General Chair.

Description: This category is used for submission of papers that may not fit well into the existing sessions or the author is unsure which session is the best fit. All papers submitted in the General Call will be assigned an appropriate session. If you don’t see a match to your presentations content then choose the General Track within that group or choose 1. General Call for Papers and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

Track Organizers: Amy Gaffney; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA; Steve LaMont, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; Harry Miley, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Retired); and Steve Biegalski, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.

Description: Nuclear Security and Nuclear Forensics sessions have grown strongly over the years to become a backbone of the MARC conference, comprising several days of oral presentations and one or more poster sessions. Papers are typically grouped into sub-sessions as themes are developed. At this time these themes include the following topical areas that will be further developed as papers and poster come in. Note: If you don’t see a match to your presentation’s content then choose the General Track within that track or choose “1. General Call for Papers” and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

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2A: Application of Nuclear Techniques to Treaty Monitoring
Organized by Harry Miley, Paciific Northwest National Laboratory (Retired), USA; Steve Biegalski, Georgia Tech, USA; Anders Ringbom, Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), SWEDEN and Ted Bowyer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Several current and future treaties have nuclear measurements as a component of their verification regime. These nuclear measurements combine with collection technology and environmental transport to provide sensitive detection of treaty-relevant phenomena. Advances in radiometric measurements, selective sample collection, or their combination with environmental transport that could provide better treaty verification are of great interest to the international monitoring community.

2B. Radiochronometry for Nuclear Forensics and Nonproliferation Applications
Organized by Theresa Kayzar-Boggs, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; Christine Yifeng Chen, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA; Matthew Higginson, AWE, UK.

Description: Radiochronometry is the measurement of parent isotopes and their decay products to determine a radiometric model age of a nuclear material. We invite contributions that describe new methods or advances in analytical techniques for radiochronometry, as well as new data or experiments that inform the interpretation of radiometric model ages. Research from pre- and post-detonation nuclear forensics, nuclear security, and nonproliferation contexts are all welcome.

2C: Advances in Microscopy, Imaging, and Spatially Resolved Methods for Nuclear Security Applications
Organized by James Bowen, NNSA Office of Nuclear Forensics, USA; Abigail Bickley, Air Force Institute of Technology, USA and F.C. (Ike) Dimayuga, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Canada.

Description: To be added

2D: Actinide Mass Spectrometry for Treaty Monitoring and Nuclear Forensics
Organized by Fabien Pointurier, CEA, France; Robert Steiner, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; and David Child, ANSTO.

Description: To be added

2E: Nuclear Data for Nuclear Security
Organized by Tashi Parsons-Davis, Livermore National Laboratory, USA; and Todd Bredeweg, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA

Description: The need for accurate nuclear data underpins nearly all radioanalytical methods and is particularly important to national security missions including safeguards, nuclear forensics, and stockpile stewardship. Measurement and evaluation of nuclear data is a worthy pursuit requiring collaboration between nuclear theory, experimental nuclear physics, and radiochemistry. MARCXIII occurs at an exciting time for the field, with new facilities around the world greatly expanding the possibilities for experimental measurements. In this session we welcome papers describing experimental and/or evaluation efforts for any nuclear data benefiting national security missions, including but not limited to nuclear reaction cross sections, targetry, studies of fission, fusion, nuclear structure and decay properties, decay branching ratios and half-lives.

2F: Intentional Nuclear Forensics
Organized by Naomi Marks, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA; Rebecca Chamberlin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; and Dan Cluff, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Canada.

Description: To be added

2G. Advances in the Chemistry and Measurement of Fission and Activation Products for National Security, Nonproliferation and Forensics
Organized by Staci Herman, Pacific Northwest National Labortory, USA; Georgie Horgan, AWE, UK; Alex Weberg , Los Alamon National Laboratory,USA and Narek Gharibyan, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA.

Description: The field of Nuclear Forensics continues to pursue faster methods for measuring radiological signatures. This area will focus on different separation techniques of fission and activation products in post-detonation samples.

2H. Bridging the Gap: Integrated Approaches to Nuclear Forensics R&D
Organized by Sarah Finkeldei, University of California, Irvine, USA; Jennifer Ladd-Lively, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; Deborah Penchoff, University of Central Florida, USA; Ashley Shields, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; Tyler Spano, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, Simon Middleburgh, Bangor University, UK; and Matthew Gilbert, AWE, UK.

Description: Significant advances have been made in the integration of theory and modeling into existing experimental R&D for forensics signature discovery. This session highlights the power of combined computational and experimental analysis for nuclear forensics research.  Talks are welcome on pre- and post-detonation research that have leveraged these advances to understand signatures of material formation and provenance, including solid-state materials characterization, fireball and debris formation, and other themes. Contributed talks on exclusively experimental or computational/modeling nuclear forensics R&D are welcome provided there is a clearly defined opportunity to integrate both into the research.

Track Organizers: Pavel Povinec, University of Bratislava, Slovakia; Christine Johnson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA; Henrietta Dulai, University of Hawaii at Mānoa, USA; Henry Spitz, University of Cincinnati, USA; Elizabeth Widom, Miami University, USA; George Steinhauser, TU Wien, Austria; Ole Christian Lind, Norwegian University of Life Sciences; and Gauthier Deblonde, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Environmental radioactivity has typically been one of the largest session at MARC, comprising a several days of oral presentations and one or more poster sessions. Papers are typically grouped into sub-sessions as themes are developed. At this time these themes include the following topical areas that will be further developed as papers and poster come in. Note: If you don’t see a match to your presentations content then choose the General Track within that track or choose “1. General Call for Papers” and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

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3A. Ultra-sensitive Mass Spectrometric and Radiometric Methods for Environmental and Space Applications
Organized by Pavel Povinec, University of Bratislava, Slovakia and Benjamin Menard, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Recent developments in mass spectrometric methods (e.g. AMS, ICPMS, TIMS, LIMS, RIMS, SIMS, …), as well as in radiometric methods (e.g. underground gamma- and beta-ray spectrometry, shielding of detectors from cosmic radiation, coincidence-anticoincidence systems,…) have improved considerably the sensitivity of analysis of cosmogenic, primordial/radiogenic and anthropogenic radionuclides, which decreased a sample size required for environmental studies. These developments have allowed to carry out investigations, which were not possible before either because of the lack of sensitivity, or availability of suitable samples. A wide range of applications of ultra-sensitive techniques with applications in environmental and space applications will be covered as well.

3B. Speciation of Radionuclides in the Environment: Recent Progress, Methods, and Applications
Organized by Gauthier Deblond, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA, Ole Christian Lind, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway and Nicole Martinez, Clemson University, USA.

Description: Significant advances have occurred in our understanding of radionuclides in the environment that continue to advance our conceptual models. There is a pressing need to use these advances to predict their mobility in a range of biogeochemical environments. This session focuses on the understanding the key biogeochemical processes that mediate radionuclide mobility, including experimental, field and modeling studies.

3C. Advances and Applications of Wide Area Environmental Monitoring for Atmospheric Releases
Organized by George Steinhauser, TU Wein, Austria; Elizabeth Widom, Miami University, USA; Kelly McHugh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA

Description: Atmospheric releases of radionuclides are important not only because of their potential dose relevance, but also because the atmosphere is the main medium to carry the smoking gun of a nuclear release from the source to sensitive monitoring stations. This makes atmospheric releases important objects of study from the perspective of environmental nuclear forensics. Monitoring is conducted on a national level by national radiation protection authorities, or on an international level, e.g., the International Monitoring System that is operated by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization. This session shall foster the understanding of atmospheric releases and initiate the discussion of atmospheric wide area monitoring specialists and environmental radioactivity experts.

3D. Applications and Methods for Monitoring the Aquatic Environment for Anthropogenic Radioactivity
Organized by: Paul McGinnity, IAEA MEL; and Aleksei Konoplev, Fukushima University, Japan

Description: To be added

3E. Measurements of Low-Level Radionuclides in the Environment: Advances in Chemistry, Detection Systems, Characterization, and Applications
Organized by Christine M Johnson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, USA; and Todd Hossbach, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, USA.

Description: A variety of radionuclides exist naturally in the environment and are monitored for a wide array of applications, including health and safety, detection backgrounds, monitoring of environmental processes, and geochronometry. This session will explore cutting-edge techniques for detecting and quantifying natural radionuclides, focusing on measurement campaigns and innovative applications. New methods in low-background sample isolation and preparation chemistry, as well as state-of-the-art, ultra- low background detector systems designed to enhance sensitivity and precision will also be featured.

Track Organizers: Organized by Lei Cao, Ohio State University, USA; and R. Gregory Downing, RGD Research, USA.

Description: This track covers classical neutron activiation analysis methods which have been part of MARC since the beginning and has expanded to cover a range of topics in neutron activation, beams and imaging applications. If you don’t see a match to your presentations content then choose the General Track within that group or choose 1. General Call for Papers and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

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4A. Neutron Activation Analysis
Organized by: H. Heather Chen-Mayer, National Institute of Standards and Technology, USA; Zsolt Revay, Technische Universität München, GERMANY; and Gwang-Min Sun, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, KOREA

Description: Hevesy pioneered the field of neutron activation analysis (NAA) more than 80 years ago. This classical radioanalytical technique is still relevant and evolving with the development of better neutron sources. This session invites research topics on instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), preconcentration neutron activation analysis (PNAA), radiochemical neutron activation analysis (RNAA), NAA by fast, epithermal, and thermal neutrons, coincidence measurements for improved signal to noise ratios, neutron beam chopper enabled in-beam NAA, and associated gamma ray spectral analysis. All types of neutron facility for NAA, such as HEU/LEU fission reactor, accelerator-based neutron generator, or radioactive source, are included.

4B. Development and Application of Nuclear Analytical Methods with Neutron Beam Technologies
Organized by Lei Cao, Ohio State University, USA; and R. Gregory Downing, RGD Research, USA.

Description: One branch of nuclear analytical methods involves the use of collimated neutron beams for non-destructive analysis and characterization of materials. Neutron beam energies can range from fast neutrons as produced by neutron generators for in-field applications, or produced by stationary neutron sources such as a research nuclear reactor delivering either thermal or cold neutron beam for a highly-sensitive material probe. A recent successful application of neutron beam technology is the characterization of lithium content and movement inside a Li-ion battery to assist in energy storage studies. The development and application of neutron-based instrumentation and methods are welcome in this session, which includes, but is not limited to, neutron depth profiling, prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, neutron imaging, etc. Use of neutron generators, advanced sensors, and other instrumentation are also invited to this session.

4C. Neutron Imaging Technologies and Applications
Organized by Aaron Craft, Idaho National Laboratory, USA; Hassina Bilheux, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Pavel Trtik, Paul Scherrer Institute, Switzerland; Burkhard Schillinger, Technical University, Munich, Germany; and Takeno Shinohora, J-PARC, Japan.

Description: Neutron imaging enables users to understand the internal structure and behavior of objects using the unique interaction properties of neutrons. This session includes neutron imaging technologies and their applications for fundamental research, material characterization, and non-destructive examination (NDE). This session covers new neutron imaging facilities, modifications to existing facilities, detector technologies, imaging techniques, sample environments, development of standards, as well as applications of neutron imaging for energy storage technologies, nuclear materials, NDE of industrial materials, applied physics & chemistry, and fundamental research. Neutron imaging is a broad field, and contributions are welcome from its many facets.

4D. Development and Application of Neutron, X-ray, and In Vivo Counting Techniques to Quantify Stable Elements and Radioisotopes in Human Body
Organized by Dr. Linda Nie, Purdue University, USA; and Henry Spitz, University of Cincinnati, USA;

Description: Elemental Quantification In Vivo: Metals and trace elements play a pivotal role in human health. Exposure to toxic elements or excessive intake of essential ones can lead to various adverse health effects. Nuclear analytical methods have been developed to accurately quantify these elements. Stable elements can be assessed using in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) and in vivo x-ray fluorescence (IVXRF), while radioisotopes can be measured in vivo using a whole-body counter. Additionally, CT and MRI imaging methods have been developed in this field. As nuclear techniques continue to advance and interest grows in understanding the beneficial and potentially harmful roles different elements play in human health, further research is imperative. Current technological advancements in in vivo elemental quantification encompass high-yield compact neutron generators, portable x-ray devices, small yet highly sensitive detectors, and high-speed, high-throughput electronics. These cutting-edge technologies can be employed to more precisely and conveniently quantify toxic metals like cadmium, mercury, and lead, essential elements such as manganese, selenium, and sodium, and critical radioisotopes like potassium, strontium, and transuranic elements. This, in turn, will lead to new discoveries in various areas, including metal exposure and neurodegeneration, nutrition and human health, and occupational exposure to radioisotopes and lung cancer. In vivo elemental measurement constitutes a specialized niche. Contributions involving the development of novel instrumentation, innovative methodology, and application across multiple fields are highly encouraged.

4E. Emerging Radioanalytical Techniques, Advances and Applications in the Production of Essential Radionuclides
Organized by Neil Taylor, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA; Veronika Mocko, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; and Benjamin Roach, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.

Description: This session will focus on (1) Advances in target design and fabrication for the production of radioisotopes, (2) Radiochemistry of irradiated targets and the purification of critical radioisotopes, (3) Radioanalytical approaches to QA in radioisotope production, (4) Advances in automation for isotope purification.

Track Organizers: Derek Haas, University of Texas, USA; David Diprite, Savannah River National Laboratory, USA; Nathalie Wall, University of Florida, USA; Michael Simpson, University of Utah, USA; Elise Conte, Pacific Northwest Natioanl Laboratory, USA, and Joseph Giaquinto, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.

Description: This track focuses on advances in the radioanalytical methods and applications often involving very high activity levels associated with fission products and fuel separations. It has recently expanded to cover Molten Salt Reactors and Pyroprocessing. If you don’t see a match to your presentations content then choose the General Track within that group or choose 1. General Call for Papers and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

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5A. Advances in the Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Improvements in High Activity Separations Methods including Actinide, Lanthanide, and Fission Products
Organized by David DiPrete, Savannah River National Laboratory, USA; Nathalie Wall, University of Florida, USA; Elise Conte, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA; and Joseph Giaquinto, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA.

Description: This session focuses on recent advancements in radioanalytical chemistry methods that support key processes in the nuclear fuel cycle, including reprocessing, material characterization, and the development of waste forms. Topics include analytical techniques for managing high-activity materials, innovative methods for processing and characterizing activation and fission products, and the role of radioanalytical chemistry in optimizing waste management strategies. Measurement methodologies of interest include but are not limited to mass spectrometry, spectroscopy , radioanalytical counting techniques, neutron activation, thermogravimetry, electrochemistry, hybrid techniques, as well as radiochemical separations.

5B. Radiochemistry of Molten Salt Reactors: Recent Progress, Methods and Applications
Organized by Toni Karlsson, Idaho National Laboratory, USA; Derek Haas, University of Texas, USA; and Shayan Shahbazi, Argonne National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Molten salt reactor technology development relies on an understanding of the behavior of radionuclides such as fission products, activation products, and actinides within the reactor system. Research into radionuclide mobility and removal, online fuel salt chemistry monitoring and conditioning, corrosion/erosion, and the impact of gas-liquid interactions are among the many radiochemical topics relevant to molten salt reactors. This session will focus on experimental and computational efforts in radiochemistry applied to molten salt reactors.

5C. Analytical and Electrochemical Technology Development for Pyroprocessing
Organized by Michael Simpson, University of Utah USA; Supathorn Phongikaroon, Virginia Commonwealth University, USA; and Sang Eun Bae , Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Korea.

Description: This session focuses on development and application of analytical and process monitoring methods to pyroprocessing of nuclear fuels (metals, oxides, salts, etc) for both conventional nuclear reactors and advanced reactor designs/concepts. Methods of interest include but are not limited to electrochemical sensors, spectroscopic sensors, mass spectrometry, radiation detectors, calorimeters/thermal analyzers, etc. Particular interest is in methods that can yield real time process monitoring data to support safeguards and process optimization. Pyroprocessing primarily refers to electrometallurgical processes with molten salts but can also include other high temperature, dry processes such as zone refining, fractional distillation, voloxidation, etc.

Track Organizers: Heather Dion, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; Clemens Walther, University of Hannover, Germany; Richard Essex, National Institute for Standards and Technolgy, USA; and Lav Tandon, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA.

Description: If you don’t see a match to your presentations content then choose the General Track within that group or choose 1. General Call for Papers and the Program Chair will make sure to get your paper the most appropriate session.

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6A. Advances in Actinide Analytical and Radionuclear Chemistry
Organized by Lav Tandon, Los Alamos, National Laboratory, USA; Angie Olson, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA; and Zsuzsi Macsik, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA

Description: The production, reprocessing and disposal of nuclear or actinide materials requires detailed knowledge of their chemical, isotopic and structural composition. This session will address advances in actinide analytical and radio nuclear chemistry. Papers are sought on novel tools, techniques, and approaches to actinide characterization using both destructive and non-destructive analysis, as well as radiochemical and morphological methods. Typical applications may include measurement approaches that provide higher fidelity, greater efficiency, increased safety, or reduced nuclear material consumption, either in a fixed laboratory or an in-line setting. Studies that offer a greater understanding of fundamental separations chemistry as applied to the above mentioned applications are also encouraged.

6B. Advances in Gamma Spectrometry Methods, Instrumentation, and Software in the Laboratory and in the Field
Organized by George Lasche, Snake Dance Scientific, USA; and Bruce Pierson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Description: Description: Gamma spectrometry is a fundamental and continually-evolving method for a broad range of non-destructive applications to include those of medicine, industry, counter-terrorism, geology, cosmology, treaty verification, criminal investigation, and advances in pure science. Methods and applications of interest include active and passive noise reduction, segmented detectors, gamma imaging, confidence levels of detection, differentiation from background radiation, deconvolution of collided peaks, accounting for effects of attenuation by intervening materials, detector response modeling, angular correlation effects on cascade summing, modern machine learning methods, and novel software techniques. Papers are sought that describe recent advances in these and other topics relating in general to advances in the acquisition, application, and analysis of gamma spectra in the laboratory or in the field.

6C. Nuclear and Radiological Reference Materials
Organized by Richard Essex, National Institute for Standards and Technology, USA; and Sang-Han Lee, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Korea.

Description: Description: Reference materials are a critical component for quantitative measurements of nuclear materials and radioactivity. Whether they are used for instruments calibration, yield tracing, quality control, or method development, the precision, accuracy, and metrological traceability of measurements are frequently dependent on the characteristics of available standards. This session is intended to provide a venue for topic areas related to nuclear and radiological reference materials including: new or proposed reference materials projects; new paradigms or processes for the preparation and/or characterization of reference materials; and new methodologies for measurement calibration and establishing metrological traceability.

6D. Emerging Technologies in Nuclear Nonproliferation
Organized by Anna Erickson, Georgia Tech, USA; Steve Biegalski, Georgia Tech, USA; and Malcolm Joyce, Univ. of Lancaster, UK.

Description: There are many emerging technologies that affect the field of nuclear nonproliferation. From the realms of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to the frontiers of additive manufacturing, and advanced materials, this session covers a broad spectrum of topics. Contributions encouraged that discuss emerging technologies and ways they affect nuclear nonproliferation.

6E. International Status and Challenges of Radiochemistry Education and Training
Organized by Clemens Walther, University of Hannover, Germany; and Heather Dion, Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA.

Description: The session covers nuclear and radiochemistry education and vocational training as it relates to requirements from regulators, industry, and national security mission sets. The session will plan to discuss supply and demand for students in different countries as well as innovative methods, including but not limited to remote teaching methods such as web-based courses, implemented to address the declining expertise. Presentations on international cooperative projects and national programs from spokespersons or representatives of this topic area are highly welcome. The session shall comprise short topical presentations followed by a panel discussion.

6F. Separation Chemistry and Target Preparation for Nuclear Chemistry Experiments
Organized by Ralf Sudowe, Colorado State University, USA; and Jennifer Shusterman, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USA.

Description: Nuclear reactions, whether performed for isotope production, super heavy element discovery, or nuclear data measurements (amongst other applications) require the preparation of a suitable targets and often post-irradiation separations chemistry. This session will focus on innovations in target preparation and radiochemical separations for nuclear chemistry experiments for a diverse range of application spaces.

6G. Advancing Bilateral Nuclear Forensics Initiatives: Strategies for Enhanced Global Security
Organized by Adam Stratz, NNSA / NA-213, USA; and Edgars Barons, Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, Latvia.

Description: This session presents advanced bilateral initiatives aimed at enhancing the community’s understanding of nuclear material signatures. Experts around the globe are invited to share bilateral nuclear forensics research efforts and associated findings, the benefits of multi-country cooperation, and strategies for improving information sharing between countries. Attendees will gain insights into the benefits of global nuclear forensics research cooperation and the practical challenges and solutions in building a cohesive global nuclear forensics framework.