Compact, low-cost, energy-efficient detector for gamma rays and neutrons

ABSTRACT: Gamma and neutron radiation detectors remain bulky, expensive, and sensitive to many environmental conditions. Making the radiation sensors compact, resilient, and more efficient are significant goals to the United States (US) civilian and defense forces for applications in areas of first responder, environmental remediation, prevention of nuclear contraband proliferation, and in general radiation safety and control. Integrating these detectors in soldiers uniforms, having them placed underwater, and scaling them to large areas economically, will ease detection use and enable greater capabilities. Being proposed is a thin film, conformable, and sensitive radiation detector using a new material design concept that is fundamentally different from conventional gas-filled, semiconductor- or scintillator-based methods. Prototype fabrication of this detector will be made using nanotechnology. The device will demonstrate the ability to be self-powered by an energy harvester beneficial to remote field sensing.; BENEFIT: The benefits ares light-weight, flexible, low-cost, and efficient radiation detection.