Increasing the reliability of monitoring for unauthorized movement of a small amount of fissile and other radioactive materials

This article focuses on improving the effectiveness of monitoring for unauthorized movement of fissile and other radioactive materials. Special attention is given to careful storage and monitoring to prevent unauthorized movement of material containing U-235 enriched uranium with a small concentration of Pu-240. An effective means to prevent unauthorized movement of radioactive material is radiation monitors, which are mounted at the exit from controlled areas and which record the photon or neutron radiation of the radioactive materials. Standard monitors installed are of the RZG-04 type or more sensitive prototypes made from BDEG detector blocks. In this article the authors briefly discuss results of research directed to increasing the reliability of such monitoring of personnel and the development of an operating prototype of a highly sensitive radiation monitor.