Rapid Scanning for Radiological Threats
The original article can be found here.
2013 R&D 100 Winner
The Earth’s upper atmosphere is under bombardment by cosmic radiation that produces showers of pions, which rapidly decay into a constant flux of muons (some 200 m2/sec) that shower objects on Earth. Since the muon angular trajectory changes as a function of the density and atomic weight of the material traversed, a unique “signature” for the substance can be developed. The ability to identify distinct material density enables the Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS), developed by Decision Sciences International Corp. and Los Alamos National Laboratory, to quickly detect unshielded to heavily shielded nuclear threats, as well as gamma rays, with near-zero false alarms.
By placing detectors above and below a target, muon track data is gathered before and after interaction with the target. Within these detectors are steel drift tubes filled with a propriety gas mixture and an electrical charge. As muons go through the upper detector, their trajectory is calculated. As they go through the bottom detector, their trajectory is calculated and users look for a change in that track. The denser the material that muons penetrate, the larger the angular change. The data is analyzed using sophisticated algorithms to determine the target’s density, and its location in 3-D space.
Technology
Radiation detection
Developers
Decision Sciences International Corp.
Los Alamos National Laboratory
The Multi-Mode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) Development Team
Michael Sossong, Principal Developer, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Christopher Morris, Principal Developer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Jeffrey Bacon, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Gary Blanpied, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Konstantin Borozdin, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Dustin Caldwell, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Ryan Clough, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Jeff Glover, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Jim Hayes, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Priscilla Kurnadi, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Pete Lam, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Kevin Layton, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Andre Lehovich, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Shawn McKenney, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Mark Saltus, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Kumar Sankaran, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Larry Schultz, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Sean Simon, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Tom Taylor, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Robert Whalen, Decision Sciences International Corp. Kolo Wamba, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Alex Williams, Decision Sciences International Corp.
Award Year
2013
Organization
Decision Sciences International Corp.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (U.S. Dept. of Energy)
