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The rad-ID™ is a complex radiation laboratory in a small box that has been carefully designed to be easy to use. It contains four different types of sensors, each designed to allow an operator to detect, locate, and identify radioactive isotopes. It offers public safety and federal agencies a highly accurate and reliable in-field tool to detect, identify and quickly classify radiological hazards as to exact isotope, dose rate and location of greatest concentration. Over 110 Medical, Industrial and SNM isotopes of significance are included in the extensive radiation library. Designed to be rugged and easy to operate, the rad-ID can rapidly provide critical isotope identification for non-technical users and extensive analysis for highly trained personnel within minutes. When used with gamma detectors such as D-tect Systems rad-D™and mini rad-D™, huge areas can be inspected and protected from radiological hazards at a low cost. An IrDA and a BlueTooth® wireless interface allows uploading of data via email / internet as well as downloading additional identification criteria to the search library if required.
The rad-ID has only two modes, Detection or Identification. When the rad-ID is first turned on it will measure the background radiation for 30 seconds, and then start with the Detection Mode Summary screen. When the Handle Button is pressed, the rad-ID will go into Identification mode. If the Handle Button is pressed in Identification mode, it will return to Detection Mode. The rad-ID controls consist of:
- An on/off switch, located on the top panel under the handle;
- Three lit buttons under the LCD display;
- A button on the tip of the handle.
These three buttons change functions in different menus and are always labeled above the buttons, at the bottom of the display. The button in the handle is referred to as the Handle Button. The primary purpose of the Handle Button is to shift the rad-ID between Detection and Identification modes. A secondary purpose is that the Handle Button will always take the operator to the top of the menu tree, no matter how deep in submenus the operator is. This shortcut can be very convenient.
The display is a 65,000 color, 320x240 pixel liquid crystal display, backlit for easy reading in bright sunlight or dark rooms. It is not a touch screen, and is protected from scratches by a plastic window. The brightness of the display can be adjusted to the preference of the operator. The display backlight can be set to turn off (by using “Keep Awake Time” in the menu) after a selected period of time to save power. This can considerably lengthen battery life. The backlight will only turn off in Detection mode, and only after the rad-ID has not been touched for the selected go-to-sleep duration. To turn the backlight on again, just press any button. A button pressed while the backlight is off will not activate any function other than to turn the backlight back on. The backlight will automatically turn on if an alarm level (operator selectable) is reached.
The rad-ID uses four different sensors to detect and analyze radiation and utilizes
Sensor Fusion Technology:
- A single large crystal of Sodium Iodide (NaI) doped with Thallium (1.125” diameter x 1.5” long)
- Eight Cadmium Zinc Telluride (CZT) crystals, (5 mm x 5mm x 5mm each)
- A Geiger-Mueller (GM) sensor
- A large Helium-3 (He3) sensor
The CZT array is located in the front of the rad-ID. The NaI sensor is located on the right side, under the right-most button. The GM sensor is located in the center. The He3 tube is located on the left side.
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FEATURES
- Positive Isotope ID following detection of gamma radiation
- Quickly identifies medical isotopes to rule out unauthorized possession of a radiological agent
- Quickly identifies presence of neutrons emitted by SNM's
- Allows first responder team or inspection personnel to develop plan of action following ID
- Identification results can be uploaded via email to qualified personnel for further analysis
- Minimal training required to maximize instrument effectiveness
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The four sensors are used in the Detection and Identification modes in the following ways:
Detection Mode
- The NaI sensor is extremely efficient and sensitive at detecting gamma radiation and high-energy X-rays. In the Detection mode, the NaI provides the highest sensitivity of radiation detection
- The GM is not very sensitive, and is therefore good at measuring high radiation environments where the NaI is too sensitive. Basically, it takes over measuring radiation when the NaI sensor starts getting saturated and losing accuracy.
- The He3 sensor detects low energy neutrons. It is surrounded by a polyethylene moderator to increase the amount of neutrons detected.
Identification Mode
- The NaI sensor is very sensitive and efficiently measures a wide range of gamma photon energies, but does not have extremely high energy accuracy. The NaI sensor is used to measure the spectrum of energies from 3000 keV down to several hundred keV. It uses a dedicated 4096-channel analyzer to measure the spectrum of a radiation source.
- The CZT sensor measures low energy gamma photons extremely accurately (much more than the NaI), and is critical to quickly and accurately identify medical isotopes and nuclear weapon materials. The CZT array uses its own dedicated 4096-channel analyzer to measure the spectrum of a radiation source.
Click here to learn more about Sensor Fusion Technology and how the Rad-ID can maximize the isotope identification mission. For a Rad-ID specification sheet,
click here!
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