Abstract: Monitoring radioactive emissions includes providing a processor having a plurality of potential data input channels, providing data input to the processor the potential data input channels, that data being generated by an instrument, and combining all the data inputs in the processor. The processor is configured to handle data input from at least two of each of the following groups: (i) a gamma detector, a low resolution gamma detector, a high resolution gamma detector, a beta detector, an alpha detector, an ion detector, an X-ray detector, a neutron detector, a detectors responding to passive emissions, a detector responsive to active emissions, a detector responsive to a transmission source; and (ii) a distance measurer, such as a range finder, a visual radiation detector, such as a still camera and/or digital camera and/or video camera, a measurer of weight, a measurer of mass, a measurer of size.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for measuring emissions from radioactive material in a matrix. Consideration is made in the variation in counts observed at different rational positions of the body of material so as to establish the information about the position of the radioactive material within the matrix.

Abstract: A method of collecting data on radioactive material includes: positioning a detector unit at a first position relative to the environment; collecting at least a part of a first set of data from a first position using a detector unit; and collecting at least a part of one or more subsequent sets of data on the environment from one or more subsequent positions using the detector unit; wherein one or more of the subsequent positions is determined, at least in part, by considering at least a part of the data of one or more of the sets of data previously collected. The subsequent positions are determined so as to improve the information on the radioactive material provided as a result of the data collected from that position.

Abstract: A method and data processing system for monitoring radioactive emissions includes providing a processor, the processor having a plurality of potential data input channels, providing data input to the processor through two or more of the potential data input channels, that data input being generated by an instrument, combining all the two or more data inputs in the processor, the processor being capable of handling data input from at least two of each of the following groups: (i) a gamma detector, a low resolution gamma detector, a high resolution gamma detector, a beta detector, an alpha detector, an ion detector, an X-ray detector, a neutron detector, a detectors responding to passive emissions, a detector responsive to active emissions, a detector responsive to a transmission source; and (ii) a distance measurer, such as a range finder, a visual radiation detector, such as a still camera and/or digital camera and/or video camera, a measurer of weight, a measurer of mass, a measurer of size; the method furth

Abstract: A method of monitoring radioactive emissions includes: obtaining a data set, the data set including a record of an event, together with an indication of the time of the event and/or the detector which detected the event; and processing the data set, the processing including the analysis of at least a part of the data set according to a first set of criteria to provide a first analysed data set and analysing at least a part of the data set according to a second set of criteria to provide a second analysed data set, one or more criteria of the second set being different to the criteria of the first set.

Abstract: The invention considers the frequency distributions of singles, doubles and triple neutron emission events from a sample under assay. The count rates are equated to mathematical functions related to the spontaneous fission rate, self-induced fission rate, detection efficiency and ?,n rate with probability distribution assigned to each of those factors, the value of the product of all the probability distributions being increased to give an optimized solution and so provide a value of the spontaneous fission rate which is linked to the mass of the neutron source. The technique aims to provide increased accuracy and certainty compared with neutron coincidence counting based techniques.

Abstract: A method of determining a function and a method of monitoring using a function is provided in which the function relates the proportion of one or more radionuclides detectable using a radiometric instrument to one or more radionuclides which cannot readily be detected using a radiometric instrument to provide more reliable results.

Abstract: The invention considers the frequency distributions of singles, doubles and triple neutron emission events from a sample under assay. The count rates are equated to mathematical functions related to the spontaneous fission rate, self-induced fission rate, detection efficiency and c,n rate with probability distribution assigned to each of those factors, the value of the product of all the probability distributions being increased to give an optimised solution and so provide a value of the spontaneous fission rate which is linked to the mass of the neutron source. The technique aims to provide increased accuracy and certainty compared with neutron coincidence counting based techniques.

Abstract: An event monitoring system has a plurality of detector units for detecting neutrons or other emissions from radioactive materials (i.e., events). At least one of the detector units has a detector for the events and an amplifier to amplify signals generated by the detector. A signal handler receives the amplified signals and an adder adds to the signals an indication of the detector unit from which the signals originated. A combiner combines the signals. A serial link conveys the combined signals from the signal handler to a signal processor which includes a signal receiver for the combined signals. A time stamper applies to the signal an indication of time of the generation of the signal by the detector unit, and a computer processes the signals, including the time and detector unit indications, using software to produce information on the signals or events they represent.