Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing a movable radiation source, the apparatus comprising: a radiation angular position sensor arranged for generating an angular position, with respect to a sensor axis, of a radiation source emitting radiations in front of said radiation angular position sensor; a camera having a camera axis distinct from the sensor axis; a light diverter arranged in front of said radiation angular position sensor for diverting toward the camera, light originally emitted in front of said radiation angular position sensor toward the radiation angular position sensor, the light diverter being arranged to not change the direction of radiations emitted in front of said radiation angular position sensor; and a composite image generator arranged for adding to a camera image captured by the camera a radiation source marker at a position derived from said angular position and automatically scaled to the camera image size and resolution.

Abstract: A radiation detector comprising a semiconductor radiation sensing surface having N radiation sensing surface segments of equal size, each radiation sensing surface segment being connected to a respective sensor circuit that outputs one of N output analog signals in response to radiation of a first type impinging on the radiation sensing surface segment connected to the sensor circuit; and a signal processor arrangement having N signal processing circuits that each receive and process one of said N first analog signals, where N is an integer larger than 1.

Abstract: A radiation detector comprising a semiconductor radiation sensing surface having N radiation sensing surface segments of equal size, each radiation sensing surface segment being connected to a respective sensor circuit that outputs one of N output analog signals in response to radiation of a first type impinging on the radiation sensing surface segment connected to the sensor circuit; and a signal processor arrangement having N signal processing circuits that each receive and process one of said N first analog signals, where N is an integer larger than 1.

Abstract: A positron or beta particle detector comprising a first radiation sensor made of a first material and having a first thickness between a first surface and a second surface; and a second radiation sensor made of a second material and having a second thickness between a first surface and a second surface, the second radiation sensor being arranged at a first distance from the first radiation sensor; wherein the first material and the first thickness are such that a positron or beta particle can traverse the first radiation sensor from first to second surface and hit the first surface of the second radiation sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for visualizing a movable radiation source, the apparatus comprising: a radiation angular position sensor arranged for generating an angular position, with respect to a sensor axis, of a radiation source emitting radiations in front of said radiation angular position sensor; a camera having a camera axis distinct from the sensor axis; a light diverter arranged in front of said radiation angular position sensor for diverting toward the camera, light originally emitted in front of said radiation angular position sensor toward the radiation angular position sensor, the light diverter being arranged to not change the direction of radiations emitted in front of said radiation angular position sensor; and a composite image generator arranged for adding to a camera image captured by the camera a radiation source marker at a position derived from said angular position and automatically scaled to the camera image size and resolution.

Abstract: A positron or beta particle detector comprising a first radiation sensor made of a first material and having a first thickness between a first surface and a second surface; and a second radiation sensor made of a second material and having a second thickness between a first surface and a second surface, the second radiation sensor being arranged at a first distance from the first radiation sensor; wherein the first material and the first thickness are such that a positron or beta particle can traverse the first radiation sensor from first to second surface and hit the first surface of the second radiation sensor.

Abstract: A direct ion storage (DIS) radiation detector or dosimeter has a design that is easy and low cost to manufacture using semiconductor processing techniques. The detectors include internal communications interfaces so they are easy to read. Different interfaces, including wired, e.g. USB ports, and wireless interfaces, may be used, so that the dosimeters may be read over the internet. The detectors can thus be deployed or used in a variety of detection systems and screening methods, including periodic or single time screening of people, objects, or containers at a location by means of affixed dosimeters; screening of objects, containers or people at a series of locations by means of affixed dosimeters, and surveillance of an area by monitoring moving dosimeters affixed to people or vehicles.

Abstract: A multi-radiation identification and dosimetry system and method that allows for monitoring of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation is disclosed. The system/method incorporates a segmented silicon drift detector (SSDD) that allows measurement of directly absorbed radiation in the semiconductor (betas, conversion electrons, Lx lines, and alphas) on one SSDD segment and radiation from a radiation scintillation detector (RSD) on multiple segments of the SSDD. With the anode side of the SSDD directed toward the radiation inspection surface (RIS), the SSDD+RSD stacked radiation detector collects radiation which is processed by a charge sensitive amplifier (CSA) and then processed by a time stamping differentiator (TSD). A computing control device (CCD) may be configured to collect the time stamp differentiation data from the various SSDD segments to permit the simultaneous discrimination of several types of radiation by and presentation of these radiation types and counts on a display monitor.

Abstract: A centroid contact radiation detector system/method providing for low capacitance and noise insensitivity is disclosed. The system incorporates a P-type/N-type bulk germanium volume (PGEV/NGEV) having an internal well cavity void (IWCV). The external NGEV surfaces incorporate an N+/P+ electrode and the surface of the IWCV incorporates a centrally located P+/N+ contact (CPPC). The IWCV surface is constructed and the CPPC is positioned within the IWCV so as to provide uniform symmetric field distribution within the PGEV/NGEV and improved noise immunity. The CPPC may be formed using point, reduced-area, medium-area, large-area, hemispherical, semi-hemispherical, and cylindrical annulus contact constructions. The PGEV/NGEV may be constructed using cylindrical, regular polyhedral, or spherical forms.

Abstract: A radiation probe system and method incorporating adaptive gamma radiation background subtraction for enhanced radiation detection capability is disclosed. The system and method are generally applicable to radiation “frisking” applications in which the contamination area may have high gamma radiation background levels that normally would result in loss of contamination radiation detection accuracy. Readings from a background radiation detector (BRD) are subtracted from a contamination radiation detector (CRD) to determine a count rate solely associated with contamination. A background subtraction factor (BSF) is used to scale the BRD subtraction and is automatically adjusted based on environmental conditions. A smoothing algorithm is used to increase/decrease the BRD and/or CRD acquisition times to account for signal variations in BRD/CRD measurement readings. The system and method provide for lower limit of detection (LLD) radiation levels that are below that of conventional radiation detectors.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation detector, comprising a chamber or cavity that produces charge carriers when radiation is incident thereon. The chamber is defined in part by a deformable plate along one side of the chamber or cavity; and a rigid plate spaced and electrically insulated from the deformable plate. A charging voltage source is present for applying a voltage to the deformable plate; such that wherein the deformable plate is attracted toward the rigid plate by electrostatic forces when charged by the charging voltage source, and moves away from the rigid plate when charge carriers produced in the chamber or cavity by incident radiation reduce the electrostatic forces between the deformable and rigid plates.

Abstract: A direct ion storage (DIS) radiation detector or dosimeter has a design that is easy and low cost to manufacture using semiconductor processing techniques. The detectors include internal communications interfaces so they are easy to read. Different interfaces, including wired, e.g. USB ports, and wireless interfaces, may be used, so that the dosimeters may be read over the internet. The detectors can thus be deployed or used in a variety of detection systems and screening methods, including periodic or single time screening of people, objects, or containers at a location by means of affixed dosimeters; screening of objects, containers or people at a series of locations by means of affixed dosimeters, and surveillance of an area by monitoring moving dosimeters affixed to people or vehicles.

Abstract: Dosimeters with wireless communications capability, upon actuation, communicate with a cell phone or other data capture and relay device (DCRD) with an application that allows communication with the dosimeters. The cell phone or other DCRD is a single device or part of an ad hoc network. The cell phone or other DCRD, once it receives raw data from a dosimeter, relays the data to a central station using mobile telephone or Wi-Fi or other communications networks. The data is processed at the central station, and available over the Internet or cell phone.

Abstract: A method for detecting contamination on a moving object moving in a longitudinal direction past a plurality of detectors, wherein during the movement of the object past the detectors, a count rate is recorded repeatedly at each of the detectors, and before an evaluation whether contamination is present, the recorded count rates are subjected to a validity test as to whether the count rates recorded by the detectors belong to a class of predetermined reference patterns for the count rates.

Abstract: A method for detecting contamination on a moving object moving in a longitudinal direction past a plurality of detectors, wherein a count rate is captured repeatedly by each of the detectors during the movement of the object past the detectors, the captured count rates are weighted in that the count rates of the detector(s) that have a greater separation distance from the object to be measures are weighted lower than the count rates of the detector(s) that have a smaller separation distance from the object to be measured.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a receptacle defining therethrough a central bore and a pair of opposed slots extending from the central bore. The apparatus has a support surface surrounding in part the central bore and slots. The appartus further has a stud assembly comprising a stud and an engagement pin extending orthogonally to the stud. The stud is removably inserted into the central bore and raised such that the pin passes through the slots. The stud is then rotated such that the pin rests on the support surface. The apparatus also has a pulley assembly attached to the stud assembly.

Abstract: A direct ion storage (DIS) radiation detector or dosimeter has a design that is easy and low cost to manufacture using semiconductor processing techniques. The detectors include internal communications interfaces so they are easy to read. Different interfaces, including wired, e.g. USB ports, and wireless interfaces, may be used, so that the dosimeters may be read over the internet. The detectors can thus be deployed or used in a variety of detection systems and screening methods, including periodic or single time screening of people, objects, or containers at a location by means of affixed dosimeters; screening of objects, containers or people at a series of locations by means of affixed dosimeters, and surveillance of an area by monitoring moving dosimeters affixed to people or vehicles.