2010 R&D 100 Winner
Gamma rays are the most energetic of radiation sources and originate from nearly all radioactive materials. Taking advantage of this gamma ray characteristic, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Wash., in conjunction with the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and Kansas City Plant, Kansas City, Mo., have invented the GammaTracker, a handheld radioisotope identifier that is able to detect the presence of gamma rays in an environment, measure its energy, and use that information to determine both the isotope and direction of origin.
A lightweight system that operates at ambient temperatures, the GammaTracker relies on a benchtop pixelated cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) system called Polaris. CZT crystals are dense, providing stopping power, and can operate at room temperature. In operation, the system combines gamma-ray spectroscopy with an enhanced Compton imaging algorithm to achieve directional capability. Identification is performed by way of an on-board library of radionuclides. The GammaTracker is much lighter than germanium-based detectors, and is more accurate than sodium-iodide-based detectors.
Technology
Handheld radioisotope identifier
Developers
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
University of Michigan
Kansas City Plant
Development Team
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| Top (l-r): Michael Batdorf, John Rohrer, Mitchell Myjak; Middle: Brion Burghard, Duane Balvage, Ryan Slaugh; Front: Les Kirihara, Michael Hughes, Scott J. Morris; Inset: Carolyn Seifert |
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| Feng Zhang, University of Michigan |
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| Zhong He, University of Michigan |
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| Douglas Lee, Kansas City Plant |
GammaTracker Development Team
Duane Balvage, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Michael T. Batdorf, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Brion J. Burghard, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Luke Erikson, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Zhong He, University of Michigan
Michael Hughes, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Leslie J. Kirihara, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Douglas Lee, Kansas City Plant
Scott J. Morris, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Mitchell Myjak, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
John Rohrer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Carolyn Seifert, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Ryan Slaugh, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Feng Zhang, Research Scientist Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
