Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC

Fisk University

Jozef Stefan Institute

Aisense D.o.o.

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.

The University of Tennessee Research Foundation

U.S. Department of Energy

Alsense D.o.o

Ashley Clinton Stowe

Arnold Burger

Jonathan S Morrell

Jeffrey Robert Preston

Toni Petrovic

Matjaz Vencelj

Andrej Kosicek

Brenden W Wiggins

Rana Mohtadi

Ragaiy Zidan

Premkumar Sivasubramanian

Joshua R Gray

Russell L Hallman, Jr

Michael Groza

Quirinus Grindstaff

Norm Smyrl

Louis Powell

Sam McLane

Pijush Bhattacharya

Norman Smyrl

Yevgeniy Tupitsyn

Eric Lukosi

Douglas Speight

A ceramic lithium indium diselenide or like radiation detector device formed as a pressed material that exhibits scintillation properties substantially identical to a corresponding single crystal growth radiation detector device, exhibiting the intrinsic property of the chemical compound, with an acceptable decrease in light output, but at a markedly lower cost due to the time savings associated with pressing versus single crystal growth.

Ceramic radiation detector device and method

A wide band gap semiconductor NAND based neutron detection system includes a semiconductor layer comprising a wide band gap material with a neutron absorber material in the wide band gap material, and the semiconductor layer is the only layer of the wide band gap semiconductor NAND based neutron detection system fabricated with the neutron absorber material.

Wide band gap semiconductor NAND based neutron detection systems and methods

A handheld device for the location and identification of a radiation source, including: a radiation transparent housing; a radiation locator device disposed within the radiation transparent housing operable for determining the location of the radiation source, wherein the radiation locator device includes a plurality of gamma detection crystals arranged in a geometric pattern and separated by a gamma shielding material, a plurality of detectors coupled to the plurality of gamma detection crystals, and a processor module coupled to the plurality of detectors; one or more of a neutron detection crystal and a gamma spectroscopy crystal disposed within the radiation transparent housing adjacent to the radiation locator device; and one or more detectors coupled to the one or more of the neutron detection crystal and the gamma spectroscopy crystal and the processor module; wherein the one or more of the neutron detection crystal and the gamma spectroscopy crystal, the one or more detectors, and the processor module are collectively operable for identifying the radiation source.

Device and method for the location and identification of a radiation source

A chalcopyrite, colquiriite, neutron absorber loaded glass, or plastic scintillator based fiber optic plate for use in a neutron imaging system, including: a plurality of optical fiber segments disposed side-by-side adjacent to one another in a parallel array; and a binder material disposed between and coupling the plurality of optical fiber segments together. A diffuse reflective material is optically coupled to the plurality of first ends of the plurality of optical fiber segments. An optical detector device is optically coupled to the plurality of second ends of the plurality of optical fiber segments opposite the diffuse reflective material. Optionally, the fiber optic plate further includes a diffuse reflective material disposed one or more of on an exterior surface of each of the plurality of optical fiber segments and between the plurality of optical fiber segments.

Scintillator based fiber optic plate for neutron imaging applications and the like

A device for sensing, locating, and characterizing a radiation emitting source, including: a detection crystal having dimensions great enough such that regional differences in radiation response are generated in the detection crystal by radiation impinging on one or more surfaces of the detection crystal; and a plurality of detectors one or more of coupled to and disposed on a plurality of surfaces of the detection crystal operable for detecting the regional differences in radiation response generated in the detection crystal by the radiation impinging on the one or more surfaces of the detection crystal.

Device and method for locating a radiation emitting source via angular dependence using a single detection crystal

A radiation area monitor device/method, utilizing: a radiation sensor having a directional radiation sensing capability; a rotation mechanism operable for selectively rotating the radiation sensor such that the directional radiation sensing capability selectively sweeps an area of interest; and a processor operable for analyzing and storing a radiation fingerprint acquired by the radiation sensor as the directional radiation sensing capability selectively sweeps the area of interest. Optionally, the radiation sensor includes a gamma and/or neutron radiation sensor. The device/method selectively operates in: a first supervised mode during which a baseline radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor; and a second unsupervised mode during which a subsequent radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor, wherein the subsequent radiation fingerprint is compared to the baseline radiation fingerprint and, if a predetermined difference threshold is exceeded, an alert is issued.

Radiation area monitor device and method

A radiation area monitor device/method, utilizing: a radiation sensor; a rotating radiation shield disposed about the radiation sensor, wherein the rotating radiation shield defines one or more ports that are transparent to radiation; and a processor operable for analyzing and storing a radiation fingerprint acquired by the radiation sensor as the rotating radiation shield is rotated about the radiation sensor. Optionally, the radiation sensor includes a gamma and/or neutron radiation sensor. The device/method selectively operates in: a first supervised mode during which a baseline radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor as the rotating radiation shield is rotated about the radiation sensor; and a second unsupervised mode during which a subsequent radiation fingerprint is acquired by the radiation sensor as the rotating radiation shield is rotated about the radiation sensor, wherein the subsequent radiation fingerprint is compared to the baseline radiation fingerprint and, if a predetermined difference threshold is exceeded, an alert is issued.

A radiation detection device, including: a support structure; and a chalcopyrite crystal coupled to the support structure; wherein, when the chalcopyrite crystal is exposed to radiation, a visible spectrum of the chalcopyrite crystal changes from an initial color to a modified color. The visible spectrum of the chalcopyrite crystal is changed back from the modified color to the initial color by annealing the chalcopyrite crystal at an elevated temperature below a melting point of the chalcopyrite crystal over time. The chalcopyrite crystal is optionally aLiInSecrystal. The radiation is comprised of neutrons that decrease theLi concentration of the chalcopyrite crystal via aLi(n,&#x3b1;) reaction. The initial color is yellow and the modified color is one of orange and red. The annealing temperature is between about 450 degrees C. and about 650 degrees C. and the annealing time is between about 12 hrs and about 36 hrs.

Rechargeable solid state neutron detector and visible radiation indicator

A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a first detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting neutrons; a gamma ray shielding material disposed adjacent to the first detection medium; a second detection medium including one of a doped metal halide, an elpasolite, and a high Z semiconductor scintillator crystal operable for detecting gamma rays; a neutron shielding material disposed adjacent to the second detection medium; and a photodetector coupled to the second detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays; wherein the first detection medium and the second detection medium do not overlap in an orthogonal plane to a radiation flux. Optionally, the first detection medium includes aLiInSecrystal. Optionally, the second detection medium includes a SrI(Eu) scintillation crystal.

Handheld dual thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer

A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode; and a photodetector coupled to the detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays. Optionally, the detection medium includes aLiInSecrystal. Optionally, the detection medium comprises a compound formed by the process of: melting a Group III element; adding a Group I element to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Group I and Group III elements to react thereby providing a single phase I-III compound; and adding a Group VI element to the single phase I-III compound and heating; wherein the Group I element includes lithium.

Thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing a single material

A neutron imaging system, including: a plurality of Li-III-VIsemiconductor crystals arranged in an array, wherein III represents a Group III element and VI represents a Group VI element; and electronics operable for detecting and a charge in each of the plurality of crystals in the presence of neutrons and for imaging the neutrons. Each of the crystals is formed by: melting the Group III element; adding the Li to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Li and Group III element to react, thereby providing a single phase Li-III compound; and adding the Group VI element to the single phase Li-III compound and heating. Optionally, each of the crystals is also formed by doping with a Group IV element activator.

Neutron imaging systems utilizing lithium-containing semiconductor crystals

A photodetector device, including: a scintillator material operable for receiving incident radiation and emitting photons in response; a photodetector material coupled to the scintillator material operable for receiving the photons emitted by the scintillator material and generating a current in response, wherein the photodetector material includes a chalcopyrite semiconductor crystal; and a circuit coupled to the photodetector material operable for characterizing the incident radiation based on the current generated by the photodetector material. Optionally, the scintillator material includes a gamma scintillator material and the incident radiation received includes gamma rays. Optionally, the photodetector material is further operable for receiving thermal neutrons and generating a current in response. The circuit is further operable for characterizing the thermal neutrons based on the current generated by the photodetector material.

Visible scintillation photodetector device incorporating chalcopyrite semiconductor crystals

A method for the additive manufacturing of inorganic crystalline materials, including: physically combining a plurality of starting materials that are used to form an inorganic crystalline compound to be used as one or more of a semiconductor, scintillator, laser crystal, and optical filter; heating or melting successive regions of the combined starting materials using a directed heat source having a predetermined energy characteristic, thereby facilitating the reaction of the combined starting materials; and allowing each region of the combined starting materials to cool in a controlled manner, such that the desired inorganic crystalline compound results. The method also includes, prior to heating or melting the successive regions of the combined starting materials using the directed heat source, heating the combined starting materials to facilitate initial reaction of the combined starting materials. The method further includes translating the combined starting materials and/or the directed heat source between successive locations. The method still further includes controlling the mechanical, electrical, photonic, and/or optical properties of the inorganic crystalline compound.

Methods for the additive manufacturing of semiconductor and crystal materials

A bulk semiconducting scintillator device, including: a Li-containing semiconductor compound of general composition Li-III-VI, wherein III is a Group III element and VI is a Group VI element; wherein the Li-containing semiconductor compound is used in one or more of a first mode and a second mode, wherein: in the first mode, the Li-containing semiconductor compound is coupled to an electrical circuit under bias operable for measuring electron-hole pairs in the Li-containing semiconductor compound in the presence of neutrons and the Li-containing semiconductor compound is also coupled to current detection electronics operable for detecting a corresponding current in the Li-containing semiconductor compound; and, in the second mode, the Li-containing semiconductor compound is coupled to a photodetector operable for detecting photons generated in the Li-containing semiconductor compound in the presence of the neutrons.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Ashley Clinton Stowe