Portable Electronics for Multi-Channel Digital Coincidence X-Ray Spectroscopy

65872 Efforts in nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear threat reduction, and counter terrorism require the detection of radionuclides at concentrations close to background levels. Enhanced isotope identification capabilities would increase the resolution for a number of telltale isotopes, enabling inspectors to verify nuclear events with greater accuracy. Also, security personnel would have a better tool to identify suspicious materials in the field, or determine whether prohibited materials were handled within suspicious terrorist facilities. This project addresses this problem by developing a portable instrument that uses coincidence spectroscopy with two gamma detectors and one beta detector. In Phase I, a compact PCI/PXI 4-channel spectrometer card for coincidence spectroscopy was designed. Prototypes showed excellent temperature stability and the capability to operate with any kind of radiation detector. Phase II will produce a compact PCI/PXI-based developer kit for multichannel coincidence spectroscopy. A portable, low-level radiation and isotope detector, the size of a briefcase, will be produced that contains all necessary detector and electronics components including an embedded computer. All necessary software for data acquisition, analysis, presentation, and report generation will be provided. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The technology should result in a class of radiation detection and identification instruments that would acquire more precise and useful data to aid and support national security personnel, as well as security and forensics experts.