Imagers Provide Eyes to See Gamma Rays

摘要

Security officials are anticipating possible scenarios in which a terrorist might use radioactive materials to fashion destructive devices. To help mitigate this threat, the Department of Homeland Security is funding two Livermore projects to develop gamma-ray imagers that significantly increase detection capabilities. The large-area gamma-ray imager, which was developed in a collaboration led by Laboratory researchers, can detect millicurie quantities of a cesium isotope from a distance of 85 meters while traveling at 16 kilometers per hour. Livermore researchers are also designing imagers that rely on Compton scattering to determine a gamma-ray source. This imager is the most efficient and sensitive, fully operational Compton imaging system to be built to date. The portable instrument will allow security officials to conduct wide-area surveillance from the ground or in the air.