High-purity germanium key to handheld radiation detector

Sept. 14, 2006
Security officials want portable devices that detect nuclear material quickly and reliably.

To meet those needs, engineers at Ametek Advanced Measurement Technology, Paoli, Pa. (ametek.com),upgraded an earlier offering and now manufacture the Detective-Ex-100. It uses a larger, high-purity germanium-crystal detector for increased sensitivity and low-energy efficiency. This lets the device identify radioactive materials faster and without any loss of accuracy. The new machine takes half the time of the previous one to detect and identify lowenergy emitters (including highly enriched uranium), and about a third of the time to do the same for medium to high-energy emitters (including plutonium and other naturally occurring radioactive materials such as porcelain fixtures and kitty litter). The detector even finds radioactive materials shielded by heavy metals.

To make the device more portable and eliminate the need for liquid nitrogen, it carries an onboard cooling system. When fully powered, it will operate for up to 3 hr on internal batteries. For ease of use, it has touchscreen controls for transmitting data, memory stick storage, and can do analysis in the field.

Sponsored Recommendations

June 27, 2025
Ensure workplace safety and compliance with our comprehensive Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Safety Training course. Learn critical procedures to prevent serious injuries.
June 27, 2025
Join our expert webinar to discover essential safety control measures and best practices for engineering a truly safe and compliant industrial environment.
June 25, 2025
An innovative aircraft with electric drives combines the best of both worlds. The cross between drone and helicopter could mean significantly faster and more efficient air emergency...
June 25, 2025
Effective when other materials fail, ceramics are particularly suitable for applications requiring wear and chemical resistance, sliding characteristics or biocompatibility. Discover...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Machine Design, create an account today!