Helium-3 shortage endangers nuclear detection capabilities
Demand for radiation detectors has surged as a result of increased efforts to stop nuclear proliferation and terrorism, but production of helium-3, a critical element in nuclear detection technology, has not kept pace and existing stockpiles are quickly dwindling; in 2010 demand for helium-3 was projected to be 76,000 liters per year; the United States only produces 8,000 liters of helum-3 a year; last year the U.S. stockpile of helium-3 was at less than 48,000 liters; alternatives are currently in the early stages of development and researchers have found several promising leads; when an alternative is found, current radiation detection equipment will have to be replaced with the new technology
Demand for radiation detectors has surged as a result of increased efforts to stop nuclear proliferation and terrorism, but production of helium-3, a critical element in nuclear detection technology, has not kept pace and existing stockpiles are quickly dwindling.
Helium-3 is primarily used in security applications as it is highly sensitive to the neutrons that are emitted by plutonium. Roughly 80 percent of helium-3 supplies are used for national security.
According to Wired’s Danger Room, helium-3 does not naturally occur in large quantities and it represents less than 0.0002 percent of all helium.
Helium-3 is currently produced by harvesting tritium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen that is used to enhance the yield of nuclear weapons. Tritium has not been produced since 1988 and led to reduced helium-3 production levels. Helium-3 is now primarily obtained from dismantled or refurbished nuclear weapons.
Since 9/11 demand for radiation detectors increased sharply, however production failed to increase.
In 2010 demand for helium-3 was projected to be 76,000 liters per year, but the United States only produces 8,000 liters of it a year. Moreover, last year the U.S. stockpile of helium-3 was at less than 48,000 liters.
The United States has stopped exporting the gas and the International Atomic Energy Agency was informed that it must diversify its sources for helium-3.
Other countries have also followed suit and reduced its exports. From 2004 to 2008, the United States imported roughly 25,000 liters of helium-3 each year from Russia, but in August of 2008 Russia declared that it was “reserving its supplies for domestic use.”
Dr. William K. Hagan, the acting director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office at DHS, said that the shortage of helium-3 could affect the handheld and backpack detectors used by the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, and Transportation Security Administration.
After the shortage was first noticed by government officials in 2008, the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) formed the Helium-3 Interagency Integrated Product Team (IPT) to manage the use of existing stockpiles of helium-3, investigate alternatives, and explore technologies to recycle helium-3 and extend current supplies.
Alternatives are currently in the early stages of development and researchers have found several promising leads including the use of boron trifluoride, lithium-loaded glass fibers, and boron-lined proportional counters as potential substitutes.
Thomas R. Anderson, a representative of General Electric Energy, which manufactures radiation detectors, said, “Up to six different neutron-detection technologies may be required to replace helium-3 detectors” for its four main uses and “[a] drop-in replacement technology for helium-3 does not exist today.”
When an acceptable alternative is found, current radiation detection equipment will have to be replaced with the new technology.
In the meantime, industrial manufacturers of detection equipment have been diversifying their helium-3 sources and turning to recycling old helium-3 canisters.
