Special nuclear material simulation device

An apparatus for simulating an actual special nuclear material source having a first quantity of enriched uranium and operable to radiate an actual special nuclear material spectrum, the apparatus comprising:

• a shell comprising a second quantity of enriched uranium, the second quantity of enriched uranium being smaller than the first quantity of enriched uranium of the actual special nuclear material source being simulated, the shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• a depleted uranium core disposed within the shell;
• a spacer disposed adjacent the interior surface of the shell, for separating the depleted uranium core from the shell;
• and
• a cladding disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the enriched uranium shell,
• the apparatus being incapable of achieving nuclear criticality and operable to radiate at least one simulated spectral line that generally matches an actual spectral line of the actual special nuclear material spectrum radiated from the actual special nuclear material source being simulated.

An apparatus for simulating an actual special nuclear material source having a first quantity of enriched uranium and operable to radiate an actual special nuclear material spectrum, the apparatus comprising:

• a shell comprising an aluminum-uranium alloy having a second quantity of uranium enriched to greater than about ninety percent 235U, the second quantity of enriched uranium being smaller than the first quantity of enriched uranium of the actual special nuclear material source being simulated, the shell having an interior surface and an exterior surface;
• a depleted uranium core disposed within the shell;
• a spacer disposed adjacent the interior surface of the shell, for separating the depleted uranium core from the shell;
• and
• a cladding disposed adjacent the exterior surface of the enriched uranium shell,
• the apparatus being operable to radiate at least one simulated spectral line that generally matches an actual spectral line of the actual special nuclear material spectrum radiated from the actual special nuclear material source being simulated.