CTBT: CTBT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2 15 CONFERENCE BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 2 15 22-26 JUNE HOFBURG PALACE VIENNA, AUSTRIA WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR EUROPE, INTEGRATION AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS WWW.CTBTO.ORG PREPARATORY COMMISSION Book of Abstracts Cover S&T 2015.indd 1 12/06/15 15:25 CTBT: CTBT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2 15 CONFERENCE BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 2 15 22-26 JUNE HOFBURG PALACE VIENNA, AUSTRIA WITH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AUSTRIA, FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR EUROPE, INTEGRATION AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS WWW.CTBTO.ORG PREPARATORY COMMISSION Book of Abstracts Cover S&T 2015.indd 1 12/06/15 15:25 CTBT: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2 15 CONFERENCE BOOK OF ABSTRACTS The abstracts in this book have been supplied by the authors. The views expressed remain the responsibility of the named authors. The Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear- Test-Ban Treaty Organization bears no responsibility for any material reproduced in this book. Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization Vienna International Centre PO Box 1200 1400 Vienna Austria Printed in Austria June 2015 Foreword The format of these conferences has evolved as the CTBTO itself has matured, but the overall aim remains unchanged. The effective verification of a comprehensive nuclear test ban is founded on the scientific and technical capacity of the world’s experts in nuclear test detection and on the infrastructure that underpins it. This capacity is ever advancing, and we at the CTBTO must remain at the forefront of this advancement if the effectiveness and credibility of our Treaty’s verification regime are to be maintained. Moreover, science and technology are needed to improve the cost effectiveness of our long term operations. We also look forward eagerly to the Treaty’s entry into force, knowing that effective verification is an important consideration as the remaining States Signatories proceed with their individual processes of ratification. W. Randy Bell has served as Director of the CTBTO’s International Data Centre (IDC) since 28 October The goals of our conference are straightforward: 2013. Mr Bell, a national of the United States, was Enlarge the scientific community engaged in Director of the Office of Nuclear Detonation Detection at the US National Nuclear Security test-ban monitoring; Administration (NNSA) between 2004 and 2013. In Promote the wider scientific application of this position he led the programme that produces data that are used for test-ban verification; space-based sensor payloads to monitor the globe for Enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas nuclear detonations and conducted research to between the CTBTO and the broader advance space- and terrestrial-based monitoring scientific community. technologies, such as seismic, infrasound and debris sampling. Prior to that, he held other positions within To this end, the scientific programme includes a the US Department of Energy, serving as the Manager mix of oral presentations, posters and panel of Space and Remote Sensing Systems at the NNSA discussions familiar to international scientific from 1993 to 2004 and as a nuclear engineer in the meetings. Presentations are arranged under four Office of Nuclear Energy from 1991 to 1993. Mr Bell themes, intended to cover the broad range of began his professional career as an officer in the US research fields directly relevant to CTBT Navy’s nuclear submarine service. He obtained a verification. For SnT2015 these include a new master’s degree in physics from George Mason theme on performance optimization, to highlight University in 2010, a master’s degree in computer science from Johns Hopkins University in 1994 and a the importance of assessing the quality and bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University efficiency of the work we do and the resources of Rochester in 1986. that we use. This theme aims to gain insight from operational analysis to improve our processes. It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the The opening day offers a programme of keynote CTBT: Science and Technology 2015 (SnT2015) addresses and discussions featuring prominent conference, which is hosted by the Provisional figures whose varied experiences put them in a Technical Secretariat of the Preparatory good position to provide a broader political and Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear- diplomatic context to the CTBT. I believe that Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), with this will be of interest not only to those in the generous support from the Federal Ministry for diplomatic community and elsewhere who are Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of concerned with nuclear-test-ban and non- Austria. This is the fifth such gathering; all of proliferation issues, but also to those from the them have been held in the Hofburg Palace in the academic world who would normally concentrate centre of Vienna. on the science. iv CTBT: Science and Technology 2015 Two discussion panels on the following days inspectors. This has been extended to educational address topics of current special interest in the events focused on academics and others engaged CTBT monitoring community. One alludes to the in, or interested in, broader disarmament or non- role of science in on-site inspections (OSIs), proliferation issues. Accordingly, I am pleased which are provided for under the Treaty after it that this year’s Academic Forum has been enters into force. This discussion will benefit integrated into the SnT2015 programme and will from the experience of the 2014 Integrated Field take place on the final day. All participants of Exercise (IFE14) in Jordan. IFE14 was the SnT2015 are cordially invited to attend. largest and most comprehensive such exercise so For those of you not otherwise committed on far conducted in the build-up of CTBTO’s OSI Friday, we are offering for the first time a capabilities. number of field trips to organizations with direct The other panel explores the potential role of relevance to our work. In addition to the ‘citizen science’ in the global effort to monitor a CTBTO’s headquarters in the Vienna nuclear test ban. We know that the CTBTO International Centre, destinations include the verification regime is complemented by the Seibersdorf Laboratories, which include Austria’s national monitoring capabilities of individual certified IMS radionuclide laboratory; Austria’s States—so-called national technical means. A Central Institute for Meteorology and third component might come from individuals or Geodynamics (ZAMG) and the Conrad small groups, contributing to a global body of Observatory, also operated by ZAMG. observational data acquired and analysed Also offered are two evening programmes independently of the CTBTO and national targeted towards young scientists participating in governments. These panellists have been SnT2015, and those from CTBT National Data instrumental in promoting such an initiative, and Centres. These events will allow members of they will share their ideas at this conference. these groups to make new contacts and to discuss SnT2015 will again include a range of issues of common interest. presentations describing results from the Whereas the CTBTO is mandated by the Treaty application of data from the International to explore new potential monitoring technologies, Monitoring System (IMS) to problems not the methods currently used for the IMS, and for directly connected to Treaty monitoring. Civil, an OSI, are governed by Treaty provisions. scientific and even industrial applications of IMS Although the CTBTO verification system has data and International Data Centre (IDC) proven itself capable of performing its task, products pay dividends to the Treaty monitoring additional scientific and technological challenges mission in a variety of ways. One example is always present themselves. Some pointers to improved methods of understanding and future priorities will be outlined during the removing what might be considered noise to us concluding session, on Thursday afternoon. but signal to others. Another is the demonstrated near-term value of the system to States One of the continuing challenges is the Signatories and to the public who have invested improvement of automatic processing of IMS so much, and who will continue to invest in order waveform and radionuclide data to produce the to sustain it. Moreover, the promotion of IDC’s reviewed products: the Reviewed Event additional uses of IMS data and IDC products Bulletins (REBs) and Reviewed Radionuclide benefits our operational effectiveness in that Reports (RRRs). The review of both IMS data having more eyes on the data improves quality by and the output of IDC automatic processing is a detecting and highlighting errors, inconsistencies major demand on CTBTO resources. In order to and other shortcomings in either data acquisition acquaint participants with the challenges of or its subsequent processing. The broader use of preparing these products, the programme will IMS data even serves to broaden the pool of include demonstrations of waveform and experienced candidates from which the CTBTO radionuclide analysis, where you will have a can hire its specialists. chance to see IDC analysts in action. The CTBTO has long been concerned with I had the privilege of being a member of the training specialists who support its verification Scientific Programme Committee for SnT2013 regime, from IMS station operators to OSI and came to realise that it provided a valuable Foreword v forum for the exchange of ideas at the forefront I wish you all a successful and productive of CTBT monitoring. I am confident that experience at SnT2015, as well as a pleasant stay SnT2015 will follow this tradition. To me it is in the beautiful city of Vienna. clear that we must seek out ideas from fields W. Randy Bell beyond the traditional participants in nuclear test Director of the CTBTO International monitoring, and I believe that our Science and Data Centre Division and Technology conference series offers an effective SnT2015 Project Executive way to pursue this goal.