LOW COST FIELD PORTABLE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS SYSTEMS
6
A Compact, Portable, Reduced-Cost, Gamma Ray Spectroscopic System for Nuclear Verification
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-98ER86083
Amount: $499,530
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Small Business Spire Corporation |
Research Institution Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Nuclear safeguards measurements, especially for containers that cannot be opened, require a portable gamma-ray spectrometer with good sensitivity and high energy resolution that is practical for field applications. Existing systems suffer from inadequate energy resolution, insufficient sensitivity, or extreme cooling requirements. This project will develop a portable spectroscopy system using large-volume, high-performance, CdZnTe coplanar-grid detectors, in order to simultaneously achieve large volume and high resolution. In Phase I, a laboratory prototype system was built and demonstrated, which successfully combined signals from two 0.5 cm3, CdZnTe, coplanar-grid detectors. Results showed that a single spectrum could be produced, while maintaining good energy resolution. Phase II will develop a detector probe with custom electronics, employing four CdZnTe detectors to achieve a total volume up to 4 cm3. Novel device designs will be developed in order to approach 1% energy resolution at 662 keV.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The system should be applicable to a broad range of nuclear spectroscopy problems, including U.S. Customs, treaty verification, and nuclear waste monitoring.