Portable Device Joins Nuclear-Detection Arsenal

With homeland security and weapons of mass destruction in the headlines, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Ortec Products have teamed up to provide some protection and peace of mind. Ortec will incorporate LLNL's RadScout technology in its Detective and Detective-EX line of portable radiation detectors and analyzers, which will be marketed within a year. Weighing just 20 pounds, the RadScout features a miniaturized refrigeration system that cools to −280°F. This eliminates liquid nitrogen cooling for the device's germanium crystal. RadScout works by measuring neutrons and gamma rays emitted by radioactive materials. It then analyzes them to identify their sources. Researchers have designed the device so workers and emergency personnel can use it with minimal training. For details, go to www.llnl.gov.