University of California

Vincent J Riot

David A Knapp

Daniel E Archer

G Joseph Mauger

Karl Einar Nelson

Matthias Frank

David Philip Fergenson

Eric Evan Gard

Bruce Woods

Herbert Tobias

Norm W Madden

Paul T Steele

Brock R Beauchamp

Michael B Mercer

S John Luke

David C Pletcher

James L Schek

Keith R Coffee

An improved method and system of identifying individual aerosol particles in real time. Sample aerosol particles are collimated, tracked, and screened to determine which ones qualify for mass spectrometric analysis based on predetermined qualification or selection criteria. Screening techniques include one or more of determining particle size, shape, symmetry, and fluorescence. Only qualifying particles passing all screening criteria are subject to desorption/ionization and single particle mass spectrometry to produce corresponding test spectra, which is used to determine the identities of each of the qualifying aerosol particles by comparing the test spectra against predetermined spectra for known particle types. In this manner, activation cycling of a particle ablation laser of a single particle mass spectrometer is reduced.

Real-time detection method and system for identifying individual aerosol particles

A digital list mode multichannel analyzer (MCA) built around a programmable FPGA device for onboard data analysis and on-the-fly modification of system detection/operating parameters, and capable of collecting and processing data in very small time bins (&#x3c;1 millisecond) when used in histogramming mode, or in list mode as a list mode MCA.

List mode multichannel analyzer

A portable radioactive-material detection system capable of detecting radioactive sources moving at high speeds. The system has at least one radiation detector capable of detecting gamma-radiation and coupled to an MCA capable of collecting spectral data in very small time bins of less than about 150 msec. A computer processor is connected to the MCA for determining from the spectral data if a triggering event has occurred. Spectral data is stored on a data storage device, and a power source supplies power to the detection system. Various configurations of the detection system may be adaptably arranged for various radiation detection scenarios. In a preferred embodiment, the computer processor operates as a server which receives spectral data from other networked detection systems, and communicates the collected data to a central data reporting system.

Adaptable radiation monitoring system and method

Growing community of inventors

Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Vincent J Riot