|
JUNE 11, 2002, 11:00 EDT
SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- Scientists at Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation have announced advancements to their portable Model 935 radiation Surveillance and Measurement system (SAM) that enables the mobile, handheld unit to accurately detect and identify "dirty bombs," special nuclear materials (SNM) and other forms of radiation almost instantly.
The detector is capable of pinpointing illicit nuclear and radiation trafficking even when the sources are masked or shielded, providing clear applications for homeland and airport security. The SAM is also effective at identifying radiological sources in pedestrian traffic, moving vehicles, and in-motion cargo.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Radiological Assistance Program (RAP), which is tasked with responding to accidents and emergencies involving radioactive material is currently using the SAM 935 in all eight of its regions across the country. An accident could range from a highway accident involving radiological materials to an industrial mishap to a potential terrorist attack.
Recently developed options for the detector include a tantalum shield and collimator that enhances sensitivity, directionality and the instrument's range according to John Yee, an applications engineer with Berkeley Nucleonics.
With the improved energy resolution applied to the SAM 935 gamma-spectroscopy detection technology, the instrument remains the fastest nuclear detection system available. The SAM system is able to detect radioactivity in real-time, identify the type of radiation involved, and quantify the source materials. The unit is also the only detection system capable of accurately identifying multiple radiation types concurrently.
Berkeley Nucleonics recently announced a partnership to integrate their radiation detection technology into environmental security systems produced by MAXxess Systems Inc. of Anaheim, California. MAXxess systems are designed to detect threats such as explosives, narcotics or chemical warfare agents.
Anticipated security applications include government and public buildings, seaports, border crossings, airports, high security and high value commercial complexes. "We will now be able to provide our customers with a full suite of very fast and extremely sensitive toxic, chemical explosive, narcotic and radiation detectors," said Wes Appleby, president of MAXxess systems.
Berkeley Nucleonics has also been in discussions with large airport cargo screening and analysis systems providers such as InVision Technologies, L3 and PerkinElmer surrounding the prospect of adding radiation detection capability to their systems' explosives, weapons and biological agent screening capability.
Military & Aerospace Electronics
| 
Community 
| View all PennWell sites | View all PennWell events
Add RSS Feed