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DOE OSTI · 3395439

A Technical Evaluation of Self-Protection Dose Rates in U.S. Domestic Nuclear Security Policy

Fritchie, Jacob Wesley [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:000900058603837X)·Bland, Jesse John [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000544051824)·Cochran, Lainy Dromgoole [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000951356609)·Potter, Charles Augustus [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000505844135)
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Abstract

U.S. nuclear security policy uses radiation self-protection as a basis for reducing material attractiveness, but existing dose-rate criteria may not reflect the time scales of theft or sabotage. This report evaluates whether the commonly cited 1 Gy/h at 1 m criterion can plausibly cause adversary task failure during short-duration malicious acts.

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Fritchie, Jacob Wesley [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:000900058603837X), Bland, Jesse John [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000544051824), Cochran, Lainy Dromgoole [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000951356609), Potter, Charles Augustus [Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)] (ORCID:0009000505844135). 2026-07-01. A Technical Evaluation of Self-Protection Dose Rates in U.S. Domestic Nuclear Security Policy. https://doi.org/10.2172/3395439

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