A miniature detector for gamma rays and neutrons

A miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro, A. Pappalardo Making the public more familiar with radiation • The importance of the “culture of radiation” • What’s on the market • A new miniradmeter? in collaboration with Microsensor s. r. l. Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 1

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation is part of our lives Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 2

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation underestimations and big mistakes from the past. . . Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 3

http: //www. iradgeiger. com Radiation is no longer invisible The i. Rad is a revolutionary device that allows you to detect radiation using your Apple i. OS device. The i. Rad works with the i. Phone 5, 4 S, 4, 3 GS, and 3 G. It also works with all generations of i. Pads and i. Pods. The free i. Rad Geiger app allows you to map, log, alarm, and measure radiation and seamlessly share this information in the cloud. Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 4

i. Rad Geiger Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 5

i. Rad Alpha Elegant and Robust Carbon Fiber Design The carbon fiber body of the i. Rad Alpha was designed to be tough and light. Carbon fiber is virtually transparent to radiation, which minimizes shielding of the detector from the enclosure. Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 6

http: //gammapix. com Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 7

Gamma Pix Software Products can add radiation detection capability to hundreds of millions of existing and already deployed smart phones, webcams and surveillance cameras. The patented technology (U. S. Patents 7, 391, 028 & 7, 737, 410 plus foreign filings) uses web downloadable software to analyze, within seconds, video or still images for the telltale signature of gamma radiation hitting the sensor. The gamma rays light up pixels near the location of impact as shown in the animation below. The two figures below left show image data taken during tests at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 8

Very smart idea to exploit an already existing “sensor” with a few euros application but: • Very slow response (if you want reliability) or very approximate (more from Jef) • Response depends on the type of CCD sensor that the device uses. If a phone /tablet is produced with different camera from the series one, the result is unpredictable • The app exists in several versions depending on the model of the i. Phone, but not all models are supported. • It is not possible to obtain the spectrum of the radiation (the thickness of the sensor is inadequate). • An app based on a sensor not guaranteed (and reproducible) may give unpredictable results and since our target is the “culture of radiation”, the whole thing could be strongly counterproductive (false alarms and panic, imagine what happens if facebook users start posting wrong higher rates). A sensor with known and well defined characteristics is needed. Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 9

possible step-up: a cheap and performing personal detector Gamma spectrum with 137 Cs source FWHM 10% @662 ke. V scintillator (Cs. I) & photosensor (Si. PM@30 V) 4 mm 4 mm minimum overall detector size ≈ 4 mm x 4 mm minimum overall sensitive volume 3 mm x 3 mm spectrum obtained in ≈5 min with a source 20 k. Bq @1 cm and 2 x 2 mm Cs. I (30 K events) the rest is battery, discrete components electronics, empty space current version could be integrated inside a mobile phone or tablet cost for moderate quantities (50 -100 pcs) ≈ € 35 Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 10

possible step-up: a cheap and performing personal detector Gamma spectrum with 22 Na source (2” detector, same MCA) 25 mm sensor electronics 25 mm operated from 12 V to 24 V spectrum obtained with a 50 x 50 mm equivalent electronics and 2” Cs. I includes signal amplification, MCA, USB connection cost for moderate quantities (50 -100 pcs) ≈ € 50 Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 11

the miniradmeter can be used as a simple counter (dosimeter). . . 2 MBq 137 Cs source @1 m or 20 k. Bq (tiny lab) source @10 cm doubles the natural background gives rise to additional 1 cps detection at 10 sigma in 2 min . . . or it can provide spectral analysis features. . . Gamma spectrum with 137 Cs source FWHM 10% @662 ke. V . . . at no additional cost Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 12

dynamical range ≈ saturation sensor dynamical range international limit for nuclear workers household radon 2. 7 MBq gamma source dose at 1 m ≈ 0. 0003 m. Sv/h Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 13

possible improvement: sensitivity to alpha and/or beta (more suited for a plug-in application) provide a thin mica window device sensitive to alpha and beta radiation insert an aluminum absorber sheet device sensitive to beta radiation (discrimination) Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 14

possible improvement: sensitivity to thermal neutrons (definitely more suited for a plug-in application) use a neutron converter (INFN patent pending) device sensitive to thermal neutrons Use plastic shield as moderator: device sensitive to neutrons Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 15

The End Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 16

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation is part of our lives Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 17

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation cosmic rays, food, radon, seawater Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 18

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation nuclear medicine, industry, reactors, radwaste storage Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 19

problem: making the public more familiar with radiation example: gamma exposure in USA Miniradmeter: a miniature detector for gamma rays (and neutrons? ) G. Alimonti, P. Finocchiaro 20