Low-Cost Radiation Detection Using a Smart Phone

Accurate high-performance, low-cost handheld devices are needed by law enforcement and first responders for the detection, identification, classification and reporting of radioactive materials. The goal of this program is to produce a compact, low-power radiation identifier that costs less than $500 to make and communicates with a smartphone or tablet for computational analysis. CapeSym will leverage its established CdZnTe manufacturing capability to integrate a high-performance CdZnTe detector into the device, although the architecture is also compatible with scintillating detectors. The Phase I effort will demonstrate breadboard validation (Technology Readiness Level 4) of the novel processing architecture, leading to a commercial product that is a D-cell battery-sized detection module which can be sold directly to first responders. The companion phone/tablet app will provide accurate radiation detection, radionuclide identification, user interface display, and user control of the detection module, through either wired or wireless communication, at very low cost. The phone/tablet app will also provide reach-back with GPS for spatio-temporal mapping of radiation levels. The technology will enable more thorough and wide-spread radiation monitoring and reporting to improve public safety.