New Radiation Sensor Embedded in a Metal Detection Unit

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 2758 - 2761
• Main Authors: Osovizky, Alon, Ginzburg, Dimitry, Cohen-Zada, Ilan, Ghelman, Max, Marcus, Eli, Vulasky, Eli, Manor, Avi, Ankry, Nissim, Pushkarsky, Vitaly, Lefevre, Marc, Kadmon, Yagil, Cohen, Yossi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.10.2010; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Crystals; Detectors; Handheld radiation detector; Homeland security; Isotopes; Metals; Multiplier phototubes; Noise; P-i-n diodes; Photomultipliers; Radiation detectors; scintillators; Sensitivity; Sensors; Silicon; silicon photomultipliers
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2009.2039580

Several of the commonly used industrial isotopes that are of concern for use as a radiological dispersal device (RDD) can easily be shielded with metal. Therefore, an approach that combines the detection of radiation and shielding provides an advanced solution. This paper introduces the embedment of a radiation detection unit within a metal detector. The radiation sensor, based on the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a scintillation crystal, was successfully incorporated into a common metal detection unit. The advantages of the silicon photomultiplier over traditional light sensors and their results are presented. The sensitivity obtained complies with Homeland Security international standards for personal radiation detectors. Background threshold adjustment and various application notes are discussed.