Sensors & Electronics
Nuclear Radiation Sensors
Nuclear Sensing Mechanism Capabilities
Underlying Science Capabilities: PNNL's capabilities for identifying, exploiting, and optimizing Sensing/Interaction Mechanisms to meet specific application requirements rely on and are greatly enhanced by the existence of strong laboratory capabilities in underlying science areas including Material Science, Chemical Science, Biological Science, and Physical Science. These complimentary science capabilities are the result of significant work for government and other sponsors. Significant intellectual (e.g., staff with specialized skills), equipment, and facility resources are in place to support this work. These capabilities can be drawn upon as-needed to meet sensor development project requirements.
Material Sciences capabilities most pertinent for nuclear/ionizing radiation sensor development include:
- Specialized Scintillating Materials
- Fiber Optic Production
- Diode Material Optimization
- Optically Stimulated Luminescent Materials
Chemical and Biological Sciences capabilities have not been very important for nuclear/ionizing radiation sensor development.
Physical Sciences capabilities most pertinent for nuclear/ionizing radiation sensor development include:
- Scintillation Phenomena & Modeling
- Radiation Interactions
- Nuclear Decay/Capture Phenomena
- Radiation Detector Physics
Sensing/Interaction Mechanisms: Fundamental mechanisms and interactions that allow detection and measurement of nuclear/ionizing radiation (e.g., free carrier generation in materials, optical scintillation, optically active defect creation in detectors, etc.).
Sensor: A device that can detect and measure a specific type/energy of nuclear or ionizing radiation. The sensor will rely on one or more sensing mechanisms and produce a signal that indicates the nuclear/ionizing radiation value.
- Types of nuclear or ionizing radiation sensors developed at PNNL include: fiber optic sensors, in-situ radiation therapy sensors, low background detectors, ultra-sensitive, large area neutron detectors, personal dosimetry sensors, etc.
- In addition, PNNL develops unique/specialized sensors for clients when suitable sensors are not available to meet a client's demanding requirements.
- Sensors for dosimetry, radiation detection and measurement, and non-destructive assay.
