Abstract: A panel radiation detector is provided for detecting radiation event(s) of ionizing radiation, comprising a plurality of adjoining plastic scintillator slabs, a plurality of silicon photomultiplier sensors arranged at an edge of at least one of the plastic scintillator slabs) and configured to detect scintillation light generated in the scintillator slabs responsive to the radiation events, and a plurality of signal processing units each connected to one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors, wherein the signal processing units each comprise a digitization circuit configured to generate a digitized signal for signal analysis by executing 1-bit digitization of a detection signal generated by at least one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors responsive to the detected scintillation light for determining the energy of the detected radiation event(s).

Abstract: A method for characterizing a radiation source by a radiation portal monitoring system is described, the radiation portal monitoring system including a plurality of detectors including radiation detectors configured to detect ionizing radiation of the radiation source and to generate a detection signal responsive to detection of the ionizing radiation, and a control system including at least one processor executing the steps of: assigning an identification address to each detector; selecting a set of at least two detectors using the identification addresses; assigning an effective portal area to the selected set of detectors; receiving via a communication network a detection signal generated by the detectors of the selected set, using the identification addresses of the detectors of the selected set; and characterizing the radiation source associated with the effective portal area using the detection signal of the detectors of the selected set.

Abstract: A panel radiation detector is provided for detecting radiation event(s) of ionizing radiation, comprising a plurality of adjoining plastic scintillator slabs, a plurality of silicon photomultiplier sensors arranged at an edge of at least one of the plastic scintillator slabs) and configured to detect scintillation light generated in the scintillator slabs responsive to the radiation events, and a plurality of signal processing units each connected to one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors, wherein the signal processing units each comprise a digitization circuit configured to generate a digitized signal for signal analysis by executing 1-bit digitization of a detection signal generated by at least one of the silicon photomultiplier sensors responsive to the detected scintillation light for determining the energy of the detected radiation event(s).

Abstract: A method for characterizing a radiation source by a radiation portal monitoring system is described, the radiation portal monitoring system including a plurality of detectors including radiation detectors configured to detect ionizing radiation of the radiation source and to generate a detection signal responsive to detection of the ionizing radiation, and a control system including at least one processor executing the steps of: assigning an identification address to each detector; selecting a set of at least two detectors using the identification addresses; assigning an effective portal area to the selected set of detectors; receiving via a communication network a detection signal generated by the detectors of the selected set, using the identification addresses of the detectors of the selected set; and characterizing the radiation source associated with the effective portal area using the detection signal of the detectors of the selected set.

Abstract: A neutron conversion foil for being used in a neutron detector includes a substrate having a first and second side. The substrate is covered at least on one of the first and second sides with a neutron conversion layer made of a neutron reactive material and being capable of capturing neutrons to thereafter emit light and/or charged particles. The neutron conversion foil is transparent to light such that light originating from the conversion of neutrons can pass through one or several of the neutron conversion foils and thereafter be collected and detected by a light sensing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for detecting and possibly identifying and/or characterizing nuclear and/or radiological material in a container, vehicle, or on a person, comprising the steps of: a. providing at least one detector, which is capable of detecting radiation events being interrelated to nuclear or radiological material; b. bringing the at least one detector in the vicinity of the container, vehicle or person to be monitored; c. detecting radiation events being interrelated to the container, vehicle or person to be monitored; d. assigning each detected radiation event an individual time stamp in order to generate a time pattern of the detected radiation events; and e. analyzing the time pattern with respect to time correlation structures in order to identify a presence and/or characteristics of the nuclear or radiological material.

Abstract: A neutron conversion foil for being used in a neutron detector includes a substrate having a first and second side. The substrate is covered at least on one of the first and second sides with a neutron conversion layer made of a neutron reactive material and being capable of capturing neutrons to thereafter emit light and/or charged particles. The neutron conversion foil is transparent to light such that light originating from the conversion of neutrons can pass through one or several of the neutron conversion foils and thereafter be collected and detected by a light sensing device.

Abstract: A detector arrangement (10) for the detection of ionizing radiation comprises at least one light sensing device (14) and a multifunctional coating (12) arranged in an interacting relation to said at least one light sensing device (14), whereby said multifunctional coating (12) is configured to perform the functions of reflecting light of a given wavelength; and converting at least part of thermal and/or epi-thermal neutrons entering said multifunctional coating (12) into light (15).

Abstract: A method for obtaining information about an unknown neutron source or an unknown material interacting with a known neutron source comprises the steps of: (a) providing a radiation detector capable of delivering a neutron energy information allowing the production of response histogram(s) as a function of neutron energy, (b) measuring with said radiation detector neutrons being emitted from said unknown neutron source or from said unknown material, (c) deriving from said measured neutrons a neutron energy spectrum, especially in form of a histogram, (d) normalizing said energy spectrum or histogram relative to a parameter or set of parameters derived from the measurement of a different variable, (e) comparing said normalized energy spectrum or histogram with known energy spectra or histograms, and (f) drawing conclusions on the basis of said comparison about the nature of the unknown neutron source or unknown material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining information or signatures about the presence or the nature of a nuclear radiation source, especially in a homeland security application, said nuclear radiation source emitting in a time or angle correlated manner at least a first radiation and a second radiation. The method includes the steps of detecting said first radiation with at least one first radiation detector and detecting said second radiation with at least one second radiation detector. The detection of said second radiation is triggered by said detection of said first radiation in a manner that is adapted to the radiation's correlation structure, thereby increasing the signal-to-background ratio for the detection of said second radiation.

Abstract: A detector arrangement (10) for the detection of ionizing radiation comprises at least one light sensing device (14) and a multifunctional coating (12) arranged in an interacting relation to said at least one light sensing device (14), whereby said multifunctional coating (12) is configured to perform the functions of reflecting light of a given wavelength; and converting at least part of thermal and/or epi-thermal neutrons entering said multifunctional coating (12) into light (15).

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for detecting and possibly identifying and/or characterizing nuclear and/or radiological material in a container, vehicle, or on a person, comprising the steps of: a. providing at least one detector, which is capable of detecting radiation events being interrelated to nuclear or radiological material; b. bringing the at least one detector in the vicinity of the container, vehicle or person to be monitored; c. detecting radiation events being interrelated to the container, vehicle or person to be monitored; d. assigning each detected radiation event an individual time stamp in order to generate a time pattern of the detected radiation events; and e. analyzing the time pattern with respect to time correlation structures in order to identify a presence and/or characteristics of the nuclear or radiological material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for obtaining information or signatures about the presence or the nature of a nuclear radiation source, especially in a homeland security application, said nuclear radiation source emitting in a time or angle correlated manner at least a first radiation and a second radiation. The method includes the steps of detecting said first radiation with at least one first radiation detector and detecting said second radiation with at least one second radiation detector. The detection of said second radiation is triggered by said detection of said first radiation in a manner that is adapted to the radiation's correlation structure, thereby increasing the signal-to-background ratio for the detection of said second radiation.

Abstract: A method for obtaining information about an unknown neutron source or an unknown material interacting with a known neutron source comprises the steps of: (a) providing a radiation detector capable of delivering a neutron energy information allowing the production of response histogram(s) as a function of neutron energy, (b) measuring with said radiation detector neutrons being emitted from said unknown neutron source or from said unknown material, (c) deriving from said measured neutrons a neutron energy spectrum, especially in form of a histogram, (d) normalizing said energy spectrum or histogram relative to a parameter or set of parameters derived from the measurement of a different variable, (e) comparing said normalized energy spectrum or histogram with known energy spectra or histograms, and (f) drawing conclusions on the basis of said comparison about the nature of the unknown neutron source or unknown material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tube coupling (TC2) for connecting an object (22) to one end of a tube (20) in a UHV tight manner, withstanding pressures up to several hundred bars and accommodating temperature differences from heating or cooling, said tube coupling (TC2) comprising said tube (20) and a tube fitting (10), wherein said tube fitting (10) comprises a basically cylindrical body (11) with a first central bore for receiving said tube (20), such that said tube (20) is axially supported by a radially extending shoulder (18) at the inner end of said first central bore, and wherein said tube (20) is pressed with its end face against said radially extending shoulder (18) by means of a gripping arrangement (13, 14, 15). The vacuum capability is achieved with simple components by providing a gasket (21) between said end face of said tube (20) and said radially extending shoulder (18) at the inner end of said first central bore (16).