Nuclear Physics Gamma-ray Imaging System for Real-Time Rare Isotope Harvesting, Monitoring and Radiochemical Separation – NP Imager

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Nuclear Physics Research supports user facilities studying the physics of rare radioisotopes. The facilities produce sufficient quantities of rare radioisotopes to be studied and possibly used for new applications, including medical diagnostics and treatment. The DOE Office of Nuclear Physics Isotope Program supports the US supply of many important uncommon isotopes that require unique DOE capabilities for their production. Both the Nuclear Physics Research and Isotope programs necessarily involve unknown spatial distributions of radioisotope mixtures that cannot be readily observed by conventional nuclear-detection means. General Statement of How this Problem or Situation is Being Addressed The overall objective of the program is the development of a commercial Nuclear Physics (NP) Imager to provide high-resolution spectroscopic detection and imaging of uncommon and rare radioisotopes as they are processed. The NP Imager will provide quantitative visual data allowing the researcher to develop new processes faster, increase workflow efficiency and lower the radiation dose to personnel. What was done in Phase I? During Phase I, early existing gamma-ray imaging systems were taken to two different DOE isotope research and production facilities to measure the gamma-ray spectra, quantities and gamma-ray images of various isotopes as they were processed. The data from these measurements were used to design the NP Imager and new imaging modalities to be prototyped, developed and demonstrated during Phase II. What is planned for the Phase II project? Phase II will see the manufacture and evolution of several prototype NP-Imagers with new advanced gamma-ray imaging modalities to provide vastly improved sensitivity and resolution. These prototype imagers will be used to observe isotope processing at DOE facilities conducting rare and uncommon isotope research and production. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits The NP Imager will naturally contribute to other DOE security-related fields including nuclear weapons non-proliferation, treaty verification, nuclear-explosion monitoring, nuclear materials holdup, nuclear safeguards and diagnostics. However, the NP Imager will be extremely useful to programs outside DOE producing large quantities of isotopes for specific medical procedures. In these circles, the technology developed here also sees a natural foray into nuclear-medicine treatment fields.