Market research – Radiation detector

Jablotron – Amsterdam Scientific Instruments meeting

Dr.Vijayaragavan VISWANATHANvijay@jablotron.cz

13/03/2013

Contents

• Introduction• Detector types• Application area• Conclusion

MX-10 – Outcome of Jablotron - IEAP - CERN – Medipix collaboration

Introduction

• Goal of this meeting• Highlight the importance of

• ARDENT project in dosimetry area• Developing partnership with Amsterdam Scientific Instruments and NIKHEF

• Identify key application areas where Timepix chip can be used• Mutual sharing of knowledge

– Timepix chip – Capabilities- Areas to concentrate ASI– Electronics – Interface development - Market scenario Jablotron Alarms

• Highlight the market scenario and requirements• Introduce the MX-10

• Educational radiation detector for schools/universities • Developed under Jablotron – IEAP – CERN- Medipix collaboration

Radiation • Factors

• Ionizing radiation• Alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, neutron

• Background radiation - ~3mSv/yr• Safety level ~50mSv/yr• Pregnant and children ~5mSv/yr• Short time radiation threshold ~1000mSv

• Nausea, hair lose, weakness, skin burns• Long term radiation

• Cancer, cell mutation, birth defects• Protection

• Limiting time, distance, shielding, containment

• Market• $2.7 billion by 2016• 6% growth projection

Detector types

• Scintillator detectors• Organic – low atomic number

• Gamma detection not possible • Fast neutron spectrometry- fast signals

• Inorganic – high atomic number• High efficiency – linear output – slow signals • Sodium iodide – most used – inexpensive – robust – favorable fabrication

• Lacks – Speed of signal – energy resolution

• Applications demand better energy resolution than scintillators • Semiconductor detectors

• Gas filled detectors• Inexpensive – robust – variety of shape and sizes• Low sensitivity – wide range – commonly used • Less sensitive – cannot differentiate radiation types• Too slow to detect moving radiation

Detector types

• Semiconductor detectors• Standard – gamma, x-ray spectroscopy• Si(Li) is good for x-ray spectroscopy• Ge based in high x-ray and gamma • Detection in the range 4-50keV• Resolution affected by SNR in low-level radioactivity

• MX-10 efficiency

Particle Type Energy Level

Efficiency Comment

Heavily charged particles - ~100% Alpha, beta, etc.X-rays 5keV -10keV ~100%X-rays 20keV ~25%X-rays 60keV ~1%Gamma-rays > 1MeV ~0.1%Hot neutrons 0.5eV ~5% Using a 6LiF converterFast neutrons ~ MeV ~0.5% Using a PE converter

Future product portfolio

Application areas• Biotechnology

• Radiography• Radiopharmaceutical

• High energy physics - Academic• Research labs• Astrophysics• School

• Homeland security• Nuclear terrorism• Nuclear war• Commerce (e.g airports, harbors)• Industries (e.g steel plant, scrap stores)

• Other• Inspection (e.g industrial, laboratory)• Fission, fusion experiments• Oil well logging• Material science research

Academic

• Universities• Research labs

• Public research labs• IMEC, Belgium ; CEA, France ; CERN ; CMRP, Australia• NRPI, ÚJV Řež• Státní ústav jaderné, chemické a biologické ochrany

• Schools• Training centers

• Radiation protection training centers• Radiation biology centers• Nuclear power plants

• Industrial training centers• VF, Czech republic, Tracerco

• Disaster ministry training programs

Jablotron – MX-10 Product

Academic requirements

• Robust• Table mountable• Transportable• Multi-user capability• Output data integratable to multiple devices• List of research papers – device functionality• Log book to record activity with user details• Wired/wireless doesn’t matter – Closed environment• Portable – Bologna agreement

General features• Sensitivity and accuracy• Efficiency• Certification of calibration• Respected norms and regulations• Size of device• Alert during detection (e.g light, sound)• Radiation level• Direction of source of radiation • Battery powered• Rounded corners• Removal (e.g alpha detection) or slide-able cover over the detector• Slide-able lids rather than removable lids• Sealed cover to detect damage or opened by user• Manuals explaining radiation, radon etc to unaware users• Cost

Market requirements• General

• Mountable/removable on vehicles• Data collate able from multiple devices• Calibration information/ product information/certifications linked to log file• Device registration (similar to security alarms)

• Alert based on device and location• Extreme temperature/humidity/dust/immersion• Usable with gloves/protective clothing

• Spec• Accuracy +-30% actual dose rate from 1uSv/h to 3 Sv/h• Self monitoring for instruments health• EMI susceptibility• Temperature -30oC to +61oC• Humidity 40% to 93% at 35oC• Water immersion 1m (atleast)• GPS accuracy < 5meters • Wi-Fi 802.11g with security

Conclusion• Product

• High regard due to the research behind it• Portability!

• Market potential• Academic

• Potential improvement through products in research labs• Tapping universities outside Europe• Publishing in conferences/trainings/seminars

Acknowledgement

• Thanks to• Pavel Hubner, Martin Honig, Stepan Martinek• Vladimir Stanislav• Stefan Vanco • ARDENT partners