Abstract: A nuclear radiation monitoring apparatus comprising: communication circuitry configured to receive nuclear radiation data generated by a nuclear radiation detector, the nuclear radiation data being indicative of nuclear radiation emitted from each of a plurality of portions of an object and detected by the nuclear radiation detector; classification circuitry configured to classify the detected nuclear radiation using the nuclear radiation data; intensity determination circuitry configured to determine a value of an intensity parameter indicative of an intensity of the classified nuclear radiation for each portion of the object using the nuclear radiation data; visualisation data generation circuitry configured to generate visualisation data indicative of the classification of the classified nuclear radiation and, for each portion of the object, visualisation data indicative of the portion of the object and the determined intensity parameter value of the portion of the object; and display output circuitry conf

Abstract: A gamma-ray spectrum classification apparatus, comprising circuitry configured: to provide a denoising autoencoder to receive gamma-ray spectrum data representing a gamma-ray spectrum of a material to be classified and to determine feature data indicative of one or more features representative of the gamma-ray spectrum data; and to provide a classification neural network to receive the feature data and to classify the material to be classified as one of a plurality of predetermined classifications using the feature data.

Abstract: A neutron detector comprises one or more neutron detector modules (20). Each neutron detector module (20) comprises a neutron moderating block (22) having a plurality of neutron detector blades (2) embedded therein. Each neutron detector blade (2) is generally planar and comprises conversion layers on either side of a light-guiding sheet (8). Each conversion layer (4a, 4b) comprises a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a scintillation material. This light-guiding sheet (8) is arranged to receive photons emitted from the scintillation material. A photodetector (10) is optically coupled to the light-guide (8) and arranged to detect photons generated in the conversion layers (4a, 4b) as a result of neutron absorption events and received into the light-guiding sheet (8).

Abstract: A gamma ray detector is described. The detector comprises a plastic scintillation body for receiving gamma rays and generating photons in response thereto. The scintillation body is in the form of a truncated cone defined by a base surface and an end surface separated along an axis of extent of the scintillation body with a lateral surface extending therebetween. A photodetector is optically coupled to the base surface of the scintillation body so as to detect photons generated by gamma ray interaction events within the scintillation body. A specular reflector is provided adjacent, but separated from, the lateral surface of the scintillation body so as to reflect photons that leave the scintillation body through the lateral surface back into the scintillation body.

Abstract: A gamma-ray detector for determining the direction to a source of gamma-rays is described. The detector comprises a first scintillation body coupled to a first photodetector and a second scintillation body coupled to a second photodetector, wherein the first scintillation body and the second scintillation body are arranged to be co-axial with a pointing axis of the detector. The detector further comprises a processing circuit arranged to receive output signals associated with the first and second photodetectors for a plurality of different orientations of the pointing axis of the detector relative to a reference direction. The processing circuit is further operable to determine a direction to the source of gamma-rays relative to the reference direction based on output signals associated with the first and second photodetectors for the plurality of different orientations of the pointing axis of the detector relative to the reference direction.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is described. The neutron detector comprises a conversion layer provided on an outer surface of a spherical core of neutron-moderating material. The conversion layer comprises a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material. The spherical core is arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphor material of the conversion layer. The neutron detector further comprises a photodetector optically coupled to the spherical core and arranged to detect the photons emitted from the conversion layer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a neutron detector. The neutron detector comprises a conversion layer comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a scintillation material; and a photodetector optically coupled to the conversion layer and arranged to detect photons generated as a result of neutron absorption events in the conversion layer; wherein the apparatus is adapted to be carried by a user and the conversion layer is positioned within the neutron detector such that when the apparatus is being carried by a user in normal use neutrons are absorbed in the conversion layer after passing through the user such that the user's body provides a neutron moderating effect. In some cases the apparatus may be carried in association with a backpack or clothing worn by a user, for example, the neutron detector may be sized to fit in a pocket. In other cases the apparatus may be a hand-held device with the conversion layer arranged within a handle of the device to be gripped by a user when being carried.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a neutron detector. The neutron detector comprises a conversion layer comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a scintillation material; and a photodetector optically coupled to the conversion layer and arranged to detect photons generated as a result of neutron absorption events in the conversion layer; wherein the apparatus is adapted to be carried by a user and the conversion layer is positioned within the neutron detector such that when the apparatus is being carried by a user in normal use neutrons are absorbed in the conversion layer after passing through the user such that the user's body provides a neutron moderating effect. In some cases the apparatus may be carried in association with a backpack or clothing worn by a user, for example, the neutron detector may be sized to fit in a pocket. In other cases the apparatus may be a hand-held device with the conversion layer arranged within a handle of the device to be gripped by a user when being carried.

Abstract: A neutron detector comprises one or more neutron detector modules (20). Each neutron detector module (20) comprises a neutron moderating block (22) having a plurality of neutron detector blades (2) embedded therein. Each neutron detector blade (2) is generally planar and comprises conversion layers on either side of a light-guiding sheet (8). Each conversion layer (4a, 4b) comprises a mixture of a neutron absorbing material and a scintillation material. This light-guiding sheet (8) is arranged to receive photons emitted from the scintillation material. A photodetector (10) is optically coupled to the light-guide (8) and arranged to detect photons generated in the conversion layers (4a, 4b) as a result of neutron absorption events and received into the light-guiding sheet (8).

Abstract: A calibration source for a gamma-ray spectrometer is provided, comprising a scintillator body having a cavity in which a radioactive material is received. A scintillator body may be cuboid and the cavity may be a hole drilled into the scintillator body. The radioactive material comprises an isotope having a decay transition associated with emission of a radiation particle and a gamma-ray of known energy. A photodetector is optically coupled to the scintillator body and arranged to detect scintillation photons generated when radiation particles emitted from the radioactive material interact with the surrounding scintillator. A gating circuit is arranged to receive detection signals to generate corresponding gating signals for a data acquisition circuit of an associated gamma-ray spectrometer to indicate that gamma-ray detections in the gamma-ray spectrometer occurring within a time window defined by the gating signal are associated with a decay transition in the radioactive isotope.

Abstract: An apparatus is described.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is described. The spectrometer includes a first conversion screen (8) comprising a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material, a first wavelength-shifting light-guide (14) arranged to receive photons from the phosphor material of the first conversion screen and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom and a first photodetector (22) optically coupled to the first wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wave-length-shifted photons. The spectrometer further includes a second conversion screen (12) comprising a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material, a second wavelength-shifting light-guide (16) arranged to receive photons from the phosphor material of the second conversion screen and generate wavelength-shifted photons there-from, and a second photodetector (24) optically coupled to the second wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wave-length-shifted photons.

Abstract: A calibration source for a gamma-ray spectrometer is provided. The calibration source comprises a scintillator body having a cavity in which a radioactive material is received. The scintillator body may be generally cuboid and the cavity may be formed by a hole drilled into the scintillator body. The radioactive material comprises a radioactive isotope having a decay transition associated with emission of a radiation particle and a gamma-ray having a known energy e.g. Na-22. A photodetector, for example a silicon photomultiplier, is optically coupled to the scintillator body and arranged to detect scintillation photons generated when radiation particles emitted from the radioactive material interact with the surrounding scintillator bod.

Abstract: A radiation detector for neutrons and gamma-rays includes a conversion screen comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material, e.g., containing 6Li, and a phosphorescent material, e.g., ZnS(Ag) and a wavelength-shifting light-guide arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphorescent material and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom. The wavelength-shifting light-guide is doped so as to form a gamma-ray scintillator material operable to generate scintillation photons in response to a gamma-ray detection event therein. A photodetector is optically coupled to the wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wavelength-shifted photons and the scintillation photons. Signals from the photodetector are processed to distinguish neutron detection events from gamma-ray detection events.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is described. The neutron detector comprises a conversion layer provided on an outer surface of a spherical core of neutron-moderating material. The conversion layer comprises a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material. The spherical core is arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphor material of the conversion layer. The neutron detector further comprises a photodetector optically coupled to the spherical core and arranged to detect the photons emitted from the conversion layer.

Abstract: A neutron spectrometer is described. The spectrometer includes a first conversion screen (8) comprising a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material, a first wavelength-shifting light-guide (14) arranged to receive photons from the phosphor material of the first conversion screen and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom and a first photodetector (22) optically coupled to the first wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wave-length-shifted photons. The spectrometer further includes a second conversion screen (12) comprising a neutron absorbing material and a phosphor material, a second wavelength-shifting light-guide (16) arranged to receive photons from the phosphor material of the second conversion screen and generate wavelength-shifted photons there-from, and a second photodetector (24) optically coupled to the second wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wave-length-shifted photons.

Abstract: A radiation detector for neutrons and gamma-rays is described. The detector includes a conversion screen (4a) comprising a mixture of a neutron absorbing material, e.g. containing 6Li, and a phosphorescent material, e.g. ZnS(Ag) and a wavelength-shifting light-guide (8) arranged to receive photons emitted from the phosphorescent material and generate wavelength-shifted photons therefrom. The wavelength-shifting light-guide is doped so as to form a gamma-ray scintillator material operable to generate scintillation photons in response to a gamma-ray detection event therein. A photodetector (10) is optically coupled to the wavelength-shifting light-guide and arranged to detect the wavelength-shifted photons and the scintillation photons. Signals from the photodetector are processed to distinguish neutron detection events from gamma ray detection events.

Abstract: A calibration source comprises a radioactive material comprising a radioactive isotope having a decay transition associated with emission of a radiation particle and gamma-rays having a known energy and a solid-state detector, arranged to receive radiation particles emitted from the radioactive material. A gating circuit is coupled to the solid-state detector and is operable to generate a gating signal in response to detection of a radiation particle in the solid-state detector. The gating signal may thus be used as an indicator that an energy deposit in a nearby gamma-ray spectrometer is associated with a decay transitions in the radioactive isotope. Since these energy deposits are of a known energy, they can be used as reference points to calibrate the spectrometer response. Thus with calibration sources according to embodiments of the invention, spectral stabilization may be performed in real time and in parallel with obtaining a spectrum of observed signal events.

Abstract: A method of identifying radioactive components in a source comprising (a) obtaining a gamma-ray spectrum from the source; (b) identifying peaks in the gamma-ray spectrum; (c) determining an array of peak energies and peak intensities from the identified peaks; (d) identifying an initial source component based on a comparison of the peak energies with a database of spectral data for radioactive isotopes of interest; (e) estimating a contribution of the initial source component to the peak intensities; (f) modifying the array of peak energies and peak intensities by subtracting the estimated contribution of the initial source component; and (g) identifying a further source component based on a comparison of the modified array of peak energies with the database of spectral data. Thus a method for identifying radioactive components in a source is provided which does not rely on comparing template spectra with an observed spectrum.

Abstract: A portable gamma-ray detector for indicating the intensity of a source of gamma-rays, the nature of the source, and the direction to the source relative to an axis of the detector. The detector comprises a plurality of scintillation bodies arranged around the pointing axis, for example four scintillation bodies in a two-by-two array and separated from each other by aluminum foil. Thus gamma-rays from different directions are shielded from different ones of the scintillation bodies by the other scintillation bodies. The scintillation bodies are coupled to respective photo-detectors and a processing circuit is configured to receive output signals from the photo-detectors and to provide an indication of the direction to a source relative to the pointing axis of the detector based on the relative output signals from the different photo-detectors.