High Resolution Gamma Ray Spectrometer for Nuclear Non-Proliferation

70062S02-II Gamma ray spectrometers are an important tool for checking the proliferation of the nuclear weapons. For this purpose, the ?-ray spectrometers must provide good energy resolution, high detection efficiency, compact size, light weight, portability, and low power requirements. None of the available spectrometers satisfy all these requirements. This project will investigate a new scintillator, which, in view of its excellent energy resolution, appears to be very promising for nuclear non-proliferation studies. Large crystals of the new scintillator will be grown and their ?-ray energy resolution will be examined. In Phase I, high quality, large crystals of the new detector material were grown and their scintillation properties were characterized. Excellent gamma ray energy and timing resolution were achieved. Based on these results, the feasibility of the proposed detector was adequately demonstrated. In Phase II, the crystal growth of the proposed scintillator will be optimized and large crystals will be produced and characterized. The potential of the new detector for use in nuclear non-proliferation will also be evaluated. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee: In addition to its use in nuclear non-proliferation monitoring, the new scintillator should be applicable to nuclear, high energy, and space physics experiments; medical imaging; nondestructive evaluation; geological exploration; industrial CT imaging; X-ray instrumentation; and materials analysis.