A team of nuclear engineers at Oregon State University, Corvallis, say that they have developed a small, portable, and inexpensive radiation detection device to help users understand whether or not their surroundings pose a health risk. They say that the technology used in the new device provides measurements of radiation that are not only less expensive but also more efficient and accurate than many existing technologies that cost far more.
The system, called a “MiniSpec,” is a miniaturized gamma ray spectrometer, which can measure not only the intensity of radiation, but also identify the type of radionuclide that is creating it. It combines digital electronics with a fairly new type of “scintillation detector” that gives it the virtues of small size, durability, operation at room temperature, good energy resolution, low power consumption and light weight. Because of that, the system should find use in laboratories and industries around the world that deal with radioactive material, including scientific research, medical treatments, emergency response, nuclear power plants and industrial needs.
The device was developed in part due to public demand following the nuclear incident in Fukushima, Japan. Experts recognized that there was a strong demand for improved systems that could provide convenient, accurate information at a low cost. The researchers say that the new system should eventually be available for less than $150 but are not yet available for commercial sale.
