Radiation detection device

Abstract

A radiation detection system for detecting the presence and location of a radiation source includes an optical fiber bundle having fibers of different lengths, a radiation sensitive material, a stimulating source and an optical detector. The stimulating source stimulates the radiation sensitive material and the radiation sensitive material releases a light output, while the light output provides a readout signal for each fiber corresponding in intensity to the radiation received from the radiation source. The optical detector receives the readout signal such that the variations in intensity of the readout signals along the length of the bundle determine the presence and general location of the radiation source.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application of U.S. provisional patent applications entitled INTEGRAL SELF-EXCITING OPTICALLY STIMULATED LUMINESCENT RADIATION DETECTOR, application Ser. No. 60 / 849,306 and OPTICAL FIBER-BASED RADIATION DETECTOR ARRAYS, application Ser. No. 60 / 849,244, both of which were filed on Oct. 4, 2006. The entire contents of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to a radiation detection device. More specifically, the invention relates to optical fiber-based radiation detector arrays for monitoring nuclear radiation sources.[0004]2. Description of Related Art[0005]There is a growing concern that terrorists, or others, may attempt to import radioactive or nuclear material which may be used for the construction of nuclear and / or radiation based weapons. Because of this concern, these materials need to be either controlled or monitored. Be...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides an improved, efficient, easily packaged, and compact radiation detection device. The present invention further provides an optical-fiber based radiation detection device for detection of both the presence and the location of the radiation source.

[0021]In another embodiment, the radiation detection device comprises a controller. The optical detector detects a readout signal during a data collection period and the controller controls the timing of the data collection period such that the detection of a readout signal having a radiation energy below a threshold results in extending the data collection period until the optical detector detects a readout signal having a radiation energy above a threshold.

Problems solved by technology

Because of the large number of containers transported in commerce, it is difficult to thoroughly check each and every container for the presence of any type of radioactive or nuclear material.

Conventional detectors, which detect nuclear radiation in the forms of alpha, beta and gamma rays, are typically expensive, have limited sensitivity, are physically fragile, have limited life, making them unsuitable for widespread field deployment.

Typical issues involve aspects such as the need to have active cooling in order to achieve high enough sensitivity with solid-state detectors, high power requirements supplied at mains (high) voltages as for traditional photomultiplier tube (“PMT”) devices, and physically stable platforms on which the detectors can be mounted.

Additionally it is, in many cases, necessary to collect the data and send the detection apparatus to a distant laboratory so that the read out of the data can be made in a thermally and light controlled environment not easily achieved ‘in the field.’ The time delay associated with remote processing can prevent prompt action on the results of the testing or monitoring, and that sometimes presents a serious problem.

Images