Active Remote Detection of Radioactivity Based on Electromagnetic Signatures
Abstract
This paper presents a new concept for the remote detection of radioactive materials. The concept is based on the detection of electromagnetic signatures in the vicinity of radioactive material and can enable stand-off detection at distances greater than 100 m. Radioactive materials emit gamma rays which ionize the surrounding air. The ionized electrons rapidly attach to oxygen molecules forming O-2 ions. The density of O2 around radioactive material can be several orders of magnitude greater than background levels. The elevated population of O-2 extends several meters around the radioactive material. Electrons are easily photo-detached from O-2 ions by a laser pulse. The photo-detached electrons, in the presence of laser radiation, initiate avalanche ionization which results in a rapid increase in electron density. The rise in electron density can induce a frequency modulation on a probe beam which becomes a direct spectral signature for the presence of radioactive material.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 15, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA589264
Entities
People
- A. Zigler
- Bahman Hafizi
- Gregory Nusinovich
- Howard Milchberg
- Phillip A. Sprangle
Organizations
- United States Naval Research Laboratory