Detection of Bulk Explosives Advanced Techniques against Terrorism

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IOS Press Kluwer Academic Publishers IOS Press Kluwer Academic Publishers IOS Press

Series II: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry-Vol. 138

Detection of Bulk Explosives Advanced Techniques against Terrorism

edited by

Hiltmar Schubert Fraunhofer-Institut für Chemische Technologie, Pfinztal, Germany

and

Andrey Kuznetsov V.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia

w Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V.

Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Detection of Bulk Explosives Advanced Techniques against Terrorism St. Petersburg, Russia 16-21 June 2003

A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4020-1934-0 ISBN 978-94-007-0962-1 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-0962-1

Printed on acid-free paper

All Rights Reserved ©2004 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2004 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2004 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowlegdement

Detectionof ExplosivesHiltmar Schubert, Fraunhofer-Institut fur Chemische Technologie,Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-StraBe 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany

Overview of Bulk Explosives Detection TechniquesAV. KuznetsovV.G. Khlopin Radium Institute,28, 2nd Murinskypr.. St. Petersburg, 194021 , Russia

Outcomeof the NATO ARW "Vapor and Trace Detectionof Explosives forAntiterrorism Purposes" in MoscowMichaelKrausa, Fraunhofer-Institut fur Chemische Technologie (Icn,Joseph-von-Fraunhofer-StraBe 7, 76327 Pfinztal, Germany

Classification of Technologies for Bulk Detection of ExplosivesP. Mostak, M. StandResearch Institute of Industrial Chemistry, Explosia53217 Pardubice-Semtin, Czech Republic

Multi Level Concept for the Detection of ExplosivesH. RiesSmiths Heimann GmbH,P.O. Box 3009, 65020 Wiesbaden, Germany

Method of HiddenExplosives Detection Using Reflected Low PowerGammaIrradiationV.S. Golubev, A.S. Kaminsky, AN. Khmylev, V.S. Kuznetsov, VA Pavshook,YE.5. SubbotinRussian Research Center "KurshatovInstitute",1, Kurchatov sq., Moscow, 123182, Russia

Bulk Explosive Detectionby Neutron Interrogation: Results from the ExplodetCollaborationG. Viesti' , G. Nebbia' , M . tunardon', S. Moretto', S. Pesente', M. Barbur',M. Cinausero', E. Horetto". G. Prete2, A Pantaleo". G. D'Erasrno", M. Palomba' ,M. Abbrescia', G. laselli', F. toddo', V. Paticchio", A Ranieri '. R. Trentadue".A Colla', A MUsso', A Piccotti", F. Poqqio", G. Dellacasa", V. Hlippini",J. Obhodas', D. Sudac', K. Nad' , V. valkovic''Dipartirnento di Fisica dell' Universita di Padova and INFN,Via Marzola 8,1-35100 Padova, Italy21NFN Laboratori Nazionali di Legnaro,Via Romea 4, Legnaro, 1-35020 Legnaro (Padova), ItalyJDipartimento di Fisica dell' Universita di Bari and INFN,Via Amendola 173, 1-70126 Bari, Italy"Dipartirnento di Fisica Sperimentale dell' Universita di Torino and INFN,Via P. Giuria 1, 1-10125 Torino, ItalysUniversita del Piemonte Orientale and INFN,CorsoBorsalino 54, 1-15100 Alessandria, Italy61NFN Sezione di Pavia,Via U. Bassi 8, 1-27100 Pavia, Italy

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7Department of Experimental Physics, Ruder Boskovic Institute,Bijenicka c. 54, 10000 Zagreb, Corata

The Main Tasks of the Scientific and Technical Policy of the Federal Border Service 83of the Russian Federation in its Struggle Against TerrorismAV. Pavlov, S.N. KarasevResearch TestTechnical Center of Federal FrontierTroops of Russia,37A, Akademika Volgina st., 117437, Moscow, Russia

Detection and Identification of Bulk Explosives Using Portable Neutron Generators 85E.P. Bogolubov, SA Korotkov, 1.0. KhasaevAll-Russian Research Institute of Automatics,22, Suschevskaya str., Moscow, 130030, Russia

Detect ion of Hidden Explosives by Nanosecond Neutron Analysis Technique 89A.V. Evsenin, AV. Kuznetsov, 0.1. Osetrov, D.N. VakhtinV.G. Khlopin Radium Institute,28, 2nd Murinskypr., St. Petersburg, 194021 , Russia

Technology of Elemental Analysis with Usage of Generators of Neutron s for 105Detection of Explosive Devices Established in a Soil, Luggage and Other SubjectsV.M. Gruznov, B.G. TitovThe Design & Technological Institute of InstrumentEngineering for Geophysics andEcology, the Siberian Branch of RAS,3/6 ProAk. Koptyuga, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia

The Detection of Explosives in Airport Luggage Using the Direct Nuclear 113

Quadrupole Resonance MethodJ.H. Flexman, T.N. Rudakov, PA Hayes, N. Shanks, V.T. Mikhaltesevitch,w.P. ChisholmResearch Division, QRSciences Limited,8-10 Hamilton Street, Cannington, WA 6107, Australia

Detect ion ofAmmonium Nitrate Inside Vehicles by Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance 125(Abstract)J. Barras", M.J. Gaskell", N. Hunt', R.1. Jenkinson", K. Mann', D. Peddar',G.N. Shilstone", JA S. Smith""King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UKbDstl Energetics Technology Department, Fort Halstead, Sevenoaks,Kent TN147BP, UK'ERA Technology Ltd, Cleeve Road, Leatherhead, KT22 7SA, UK

Challenges in Application and Evaluation of EDS Systems for Aviation Security 127C.J. de RuiterProject managerAviation Security, TNO-PML,P.O. Box 45,2280 AA Rijswijk, TheNetherlands

Circuits of Digital Signal Processing in NQR 137V.S. GrechishkinKaliningrad State University,14, A Nevsky st., 236041 Kaliningrad, Russia

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The Design Philosophy of the Combined Systems for Detection of Explosive 149SubstancesUsing X-Rayand TNA DevicesY.1. Olshansky, AB . Vishnevkin, AG . Sorokin, Y.G. Levin, N.E. Gjibovsky ,S.M. Stepushkin, I.B. BrukScientific & Technical Center "RATEC', Ltd.,44/2, Oktjabrskaj emb., 193079, PO box 84, St. Petersburg, Russia

Sub-Surface Location : Techniques and Equipment 155Some practical results from RussiaG.N. Sherbakov, V.N. Tkach, D.V. TkachevEngineering-Commercial Multiprofile Center-1 Ltd., Technical Security,27/1 , 13th Parkovaya st., 105215, Moscow, Russia

Detection of Explosives Using Continuous Microwaves 161V.P. Averianov, I. YU. Gorshkov, AV. Kuznetsov, AS . VishnevetskiyV.G. Khlopin Radium Institute, 28, 2nd Murinskypr., St. Petersburg, 194021 , Russia

Application of LlBS Spectroscopy for Remote Bulk Detection of Explosives 167C. Romano, S. Graser, K. Faulian, W. SchadeInstitut fOr Physik und Physikalische Technologien, Technische Universitat ClausthalG. HollWehrwissenschaftliches Institut fur Werk-, Explosiv- und Betriebsstoffe (WIWEB),Swisttal-Heimerzheim

Using of Acoustic Techniques for Detection of Explosives in Gas, Liquid and Solid 175MediumsAN. Valyaev', VA Yanushkevich''NuclearSafety Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences (NSI RAS),52, B. Tulskaya, Moscow, Russia, 1131912Joint Stock Company "Conversia",12 Zvezdnaya, Moscow Region, Russia, 143909

Analysis of the Possibility of Explosives Detection with PulsedNeutrons Sounding 185MethodV.YA Averchenkov, G.S. Vinyarski , Yu.M. Drosdov, AP. MorovovThe Russian Federal Nuclear Center- All-Russia Scientific Research Institute ofExperimental Physics (VNIIEF),37, Mira Prospekt, Sarov, N. Novgorod reg., 607190, Russia

Complex System for Detection, Localization and Destruction of Explosive Materials 195in Suspect Objects Found in Public AreasV.S. Kyzyurov", AI. Laykin", A.B. Vishnevkin", Yu.1. Olshansky", NA lvanov',AI. Mikhailin", V.V. Silnikov''AKrylov Shipbuilding Research Institute,44 Moskovskoye shosse, 196158, St. Petersburg, Russia"Scientific and Technological Center RATEC, Limited,44 Octyabrskaya quay, 193079, St. Petersburg, RussiacSpecialized Materials Research and Production Enterprise,58-A, Sampsonievski pr, 194044, St. Petersburg, Russia

EUDEM2: Overview and Some EarlyFindings 201J. Wtorek, A Janczulewicz, A Polinski, A Bujnowski, H. Sahli*, K. DeBruyn*Gdansk University of Technology, *Vrije universiteit Brussel,80-952 Gdansk, Narutowicza 11/12, Poland

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Possibilityof Using X-Ray Inspection Systemsfor Detection of Terrorism-Related 209ExplosivesA Akhmatov, S. KleimenovScientific-Production Development " DELTA" ,18, KlariTsetkin str., 125299, Moscow, Russia

Method for Detection of Fissioning and Explosive Substances 211YU.N. Gavrish, AV. Sidorov, AM. FialkovskyD.V. Efremov Scientific Research Institute of Electrophyical Apparatus(NIIEFA),3, Doroga na Metallostroy, Promzona " Metallostroy" , Metallostroy,St. Petersburg,196641, Russia

FastNeutron Analysis at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) 219A. Axelsson, P. Andersson, K. Elmgren, P. Jansson, N. Olsson, A. Ringbom,K. Wilhelmsen-RolanderSwedish Defence Research Agency(FOI),Systems Technology Division, 17290 Stockholm, Sweden

Detection of Bulk Explosives with Inelastic FastNeutrons Scattering 225V.V. Smirnov, M.N. Chubarov, I.Yu. Gorshkov, AV. Kuznetsov, 0 .1. OsetrovV.G. Khlopin Radium Institute,28, 2nd Murinsky pr., St. Petersburg, 194021, Russia

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Preface

The" Explosive DetectionWorking Group"(EDWG) of the"Advisory Panel on Security- RelatedCivil Science and Technology" has proposed in its meeting of 5 September 2003 to sponsorduring the next two years 4 or 5 Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) concerning detection ofexplosives in connexionwith counterterrorism.

The first three ARWs shoulddealwith• Vapourand Trace Detection of Explosives,• Detection of BulkExplosives and• Electronic Nose/Sensors for Detection of Explosives.

Thefirst one hastaken place in March in Moscow, the second one in June in St. Petersburg(Russia) and the third one in October in Coventry, U.K.- all in 2003.The ideawasto coverall known sensor technologies for application in the area ofcounterterrorism.The proceedings submitted in this copywere dealingwith the ARWentitled:"Detection of Bulk Explosives: Advanced Techniques againstTerrorism" .

Thedetection of explosives for deminingwas content of three ARWs sponsored by NATO someyears beforeand several sensor techniques presented in thoseworkshopswere based on similartechnologies as discussed here, only the applications were different.TheWorkshopwas attended by more that 35 participants from Australia, Czech Republic,Germany, Italy, TheNetherlands, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK. Thepresented talks can besplit into the following categories.

Overviews devotedto:

• existingand emerging bulk explosives detection techniques;

• scientific and technical policy of the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation;

• challenges in application and evaluation of EDS systems for aviationsecurity;

• multi-sensor approach to explosives' detection.

Reports devotedto the following individual explosives' detection techniques:

• X-raysystems in airports;

• "neutron in, gammaout" techniques (TNA, PFNA, API, NNA);

• neutron and gammabackscattering;

• nuclear quadrupleresonance, including remote NQR;

• sub-surface radars;

• microwave scanners;

• laser-induced burst spectroscopy (L1BS);

• acoustic sensors;

• non-linear location (NLJD);

• systems for localization and destruction of explosive objects.

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Results from the following meetings and collaborations were reported :

• NATO ARW "Vapor and Trace Detection of Explosives for Antiterrorism Purposes" ,Moscow, March 2003 .

• Expert workshop on explosive detection techniques for use in mine clearance andsecurity related requirements , 2 - 4 June 2003, Bled Lake, Slovenia.

• Gordon Research Conference : Illicit Substance Detection : Explosives June 8-13, 2003,Barga, Italy.

• EXPLODET Collaboration.

• EUDEM2 Collaboration .

Consequences and recommendations for further investigations about the detection ofbulk explosives.

The long term goal- 100% detection, 0% false alarms - is an "impossible" dream, however weshould always work for better detection systems to enhance the security of the public, becauseterrorists will always find new ways to commit terrorist acts.

Short term goal is improvement of current detection systems in a timely and cost-effectivemanner.

The following scenarios should be considered:

Target Sensor

1 Luggage controlPersonalcontrol mobile stationaryCar control

2 Search for bombs Stationary mobile

3 Suicide bombers Mobile mobile

While in some scenarios the general direction of work is to reduce the inspection time, in otherscenarios time will be sacrificed in favor of 100% detection probability. This can be determinedfrom the feed-back from users of ED technologies , which is in many cases lacking now.

• Luggage control including personal screening

Commercial apparatus for airports are available. X-Raywith or without backscattering can besupplemented by NQRor by Neutron based techniques . A new generation with higherperformance and better information are used, but experiences must be collected. The questionis, are we able to detect all explosives, all combinations and may it be possible to mask explosivematerials in any way? It may be unrealistic to reach a 100 % security! Furthe r research in thisarea should concentrate on reducing the time of inspection, increasing the detect ion probabilityand reducing the false alarm rate, thwarting possible countermeasures, eliminating the"undetectable explosives" problem and development of automated decision-taking algorithms .

• Detection of Explosives in flexible surroundings

Methods for detection of explosive materials in flexible and unknown surroundings (by reflectionmeasurement) are more or lessavailable in lab. scale. The most urgent task in countering thethreat by suicide bombers. The creation of remote (stand off) inspection tools, would be

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necessaryboth from safety and privacy standpoint s. Also, one should always keep in mind thepolitical dimension of this problem.Proving under f ield conditions is missing and the transfer of technology from research results toapplicat ion in the f ield is necessary.

An ARW is proposed to stimulate research- and developing industries to close the gap oftechnology transfer . Engineers working in industry should provide ideas to labs, and labs shouldcome to industry at an earlier stage.

• Additional Investigations

- Spectroscopic methods by reflection .- The detections-time has been reduced in general.- Stand off detection of objects with potential risk should be improved.- Beside the detection of explosive charges or mater ials also the detection of ignition devices

(detonators) has to be investigated because 80% of terrorist charges cont ain electronics,wh ich may be detectable . A special problem w ill be the false alarm rate.

- Power trains to distribute chemical, biologica l and/or nuclear warfare mate rials has to bediscussed in future ARWs.

• Collaboration between East and West.

During the last decade explosives detect ion efforts in the Eastand in the West followed twodifferent paths due to mainly econom ic reasons. Wh ile in th e West the main emphasis is placedon issues concerning implementation of existing and prom ising detect ion techno log ies indifferent real-life applicat ions, in the Eastth e fo cus has been fu ndamental research andlaboratory tests. The result is a very weak connection between scientif ic groups in the East, whoare developing new advanced detect ion methods, w ith industry and users of th is technology.While some grants from both governmental organ izations and private industry are available toEastern scientists to create proof-of-principle prototypes of their devices, f inding funds fortest ing the developed technology in real-life applicat ions is immensely difficul t. This gap isseldom filled by industry, since it prefers to work in well -established markets; users of thetechnology (airports, anti-terrorist agencies, etc) often do not know about new explosives'detection methods, and do not put enough pressureon industry to try new prom isingapproached despite the associated financial risk. Another side of this problem is that scientistsoften do not know enough about applications of their technologies, and sometimes waste timeand resources developing devices that will never be used in practice due to specific requ irementsof end users.

Cooperation between Eastern and Western research institutions is often hindered or evenprevented due to confidentiality issues, while terrorists tend to cooperate and exchange" technological ideas" freely. This gap may be closed by providing more funds for lab-to-labcooperat ion, including special money for cross-laboratory evaluation and tests of newtechnologies, as w ell as field tests of new ED methods.

St rengthening t ies between links of the scientist - developer - indust ry - technology user ­policy maker chain is the most urgent task, if t imely and adequate answers to ever-evolvingterrorist treats are to be found .

Co-chairmen:

Hiltma r SchubertAndrey Kuznetsov

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Acknowledgement

Basedon the excellent collaboration with my co-chair of the ARW "Detection of Explosives andLandmines" in 2001, Dr. Andrey Kuznetsov from the Khlopin Institute in St. Petersburg,I am very obliged to him once more for chairing with me this workshop, for the localorganization of this NATO-ARW and for the collection of all the eastern contributions tothis R&D area. My thanks are also directed to the director of the Khlopin InstituteProf. Dr. Rimski-Korsakov, for his support .

I thank my western colleagues for following my invitation to present their new research resultsin St. Petersburg.

The discussionsof the situation in the detection of bulk-explosives in the frame of counter­terrorism, their consequences and recommendations for future activities were very intensive andfruitful and were summarized in the preface. I have to thank all colleagues for theircontributions, especially Dr. Kuznetsov for summing up the outcome.

I would like to thank the Advisory Panel on Security-Related Civil Science& Technologyand its Programme Director, Prof. F.e. Rodrigues, for their support and interest in this ARW.

Hiltmar Schubert