Low-Mass, Solid-State Neutron Coincidence Counter

This effort will develop a highly portable and compact device that can assess the nuclear criticality in a potentially adverse environment.  Current solutions are aimed at permanently installed equipment and any portable options are not suitable for the warfighter.  Combining recent breakthroughs in solid state semiconductor detector technologies with modern spatial mapping capabilities can offer a next generation product that will bring situational awareness to the warfighter.  This work will rely on 3D position-sensitive CdZnTe gamma-ray imaging spectrometers to analyze the gamma emissions from special nuclear material, and microstructure neutron detectors to analyze the neutron emissions and multiplicity.  These technologies are low size, weight, and power but are inferior in capability to less portable solutions.  This effort will measure and simulate the performance of these alternative solutions in criticality environments that are relevant to the warfighter.  The ultimate goal is to provide a device that is able to rapidly provide a crude situational awareness to the warfighter, indicating whether special nuclear material is present at all and, if so, whether or not it is critical.