SBIR-STTR Award

Lexitek proposes to develop an imaging gamma-ray detector with 1024 x 1024 pixels for arms control verification. The proposed detector significantly enhances the resolution of fissionable material distribution without compromising energy resolution. The detector consists of a scintillating crystal and associated sensors which determine the energy and position of the scintillation with high spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. The position sensing is done with a PAPA photon-counting detector. The camera can achieve sub-millimeter resolution and the position determination is performed at MHz measurements using prototype sub-systems. In Phase II, we will construct and test a standalone gamma camera. The proposed detector will have greatly improved spatial resolution. It should have application to nuclear medical imaging, gamma ray astronomy, bomb detection, and nuclear weapons monitoring.

In Phase I, a prototype detector was demonstrated with good spatial, temporal, and energy resolution. The detector can image radioactive material in geometries relevant to nuclear weapons. In Phase II, the design will be completed for fabrication of a system which can readily be transported to remote field sites and use a laptop computer for data acquisition, image and energy spectrum display. The detector will be characterized and optimized in the laboratory. Field test will be conducted to test the performance in a number of relevant applications. The detector will be delivered upon completion of Phase II.

Keywords:
Gamma Camera, Photon Counting, Gamma Ray Astronomy, Coded Aperture Imaging.