Technique for3D imaging and Position Resolution for Nuclear Materials Detection
Reference number: STC-PS-0971
Inventor(s): A. Hecht
For more information, contact: Erin M. Beaumont (505-272-7912)
or Jovan Heusser, M.B.A. (505-272-7908)
Patent(s)
Application(s) pending
Background
This technology is a novel approach to extract three dimensional images and high resolution position information for radioactive materials detection.
Technology
This technology addresses a technique and a device to perform three dimensional radioactive source imaging within materials using two dimensional external measurements. This can be applied for discrete or diffuse sources, and can be used for depth imaging of radiation emitters within materials. This can include source spectroscopy, allowing isotope information along with imaging. The only limitation is gamma-ray penetration of the material. This can make processes faster, cheaper, and better.
Applications/Advantages
The ability to map out distributions of radioactive materials in three dimensions based on two dimensional detection suggests several applications which could create great savings in time and money. The applications are not limited to those presented.
1. Environmental Remediation:
Radioactive contamination cleanup is a big industry, with NRC demands to clean up materials processing sites. Many millions of dollars are being spent to clean up national laboratories or nuclear fuel processing facilities.
Currently, surface surveys are carried out to acquire a two dimensional mapping of soil contamination. The soil where contamination was noted is removed in layers. The site is resurveyed and the process is repeated. Without depth information on soil contamination, more soil must be excavated than the minimum required, taking more time and creating more waste which is classified as radioactive and must be disposed of very expensively. For a large site of several acres the excess material classified as waste and the subsequent cost can be considerable. The time spent doing the unnecessary excavation and handling the material must also be considered.
The proposed technique can be used as either the principle technique for detection, or as a soil depth determination follow-up after the traditional two dimensional contamination mapping is produced.
For contamination of concrete or other difficult materials the time factor is much greater, and the need to avoid excess excavation is even greater. Radioactive material spilled onto concrete seeps in and excavation is very difficult. Minimizing the amount of material to excavate saves alot of time and effort.
2. Materials Analysis:
An application has been presented for imaging radioactive materials within soils and concrete. This technique can be used more generally to image radioactive distributions within materials. Radioactive gasses or liquids can be pushed into materials which may have cracks which can then be mapped, or leaks of underground pipes can be mapped out from the surface. Using a short lived isotope would be ideal for this application. This allows great savings in manufacturing and QC, and time savings in locating damage to repair.
3. Nuclear Nonproliferation:
An important aspect of nuclear nonproliferation is monitoring what comes through the borders, such as surveying shipping containers. Radiation detectors are already being used for this surveying, providing information on whether containers contain questionable materials. The new technique can add to this interrogation by determining where, in all three dimensions, the radioactive materials are within the container, before opening the container, speeding up any subsequent cargo inspections by hand.
