Nuclear security

Symetrica Presents Compact And Ultra-Light Wearable Neutron Detector System For First Responders And Security Staff

Symetrica has introduced a prototype wearable detector system that provides high-sensitivity, high-accuracy and resolution for an improved source detection performance.

The compact and lightweight Neutron Vest, which has been officially presented at the 2016 IEEE Symposium on Radiation Measurements and Applications (SORMA), will provide security professionals an alternative to backpack and handheld systems guaranteeing the same level of performance against the ANSI standard but with substantially reduced weight and bulk.

Neutron Vest is a radiation detector system comprised of up to four wearable neutron detector modules. When worn on the torso, the system provides comparable sensitivity to a backpack system with the advantages of being ultra-light – each module weighs 1lb – and supporting an intuitive smartphone interface.

Based upon Symetrica's Discovery Technology, each neutron detector module comprises a thin LiF/ZnS thermal neutron detector, a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array as well as pulse-shape discrimination logic and internal health monitoring. The lightweight internal battery allows over twenty hours of operation from a four-hour charge.