The USAF Armstrong Laboratory is interested in improving the detection sensitivity of a CaF2 (EU) based detector system (BAG-X) for performing field measurements of low energy (17 keV and 60 keV) x-rays. The detection sensitivity of a system can be enhanced by improving its energy resolution, increasing its area efficiency and/or improving the signal processing electronics. Since the late 1970's, advances have been made in each of these areas so that a new design approach for BAG-X could result in a significant improvement to its detection sensitivity. New packaging approaches for hygroscopic scintillators, which typically offer better energy resolution and area efficiencies to CaF2(Eu), could result in their use in harsh environments which necessitate rugged systems. The ability to build compact, light-weight and powerful electronics for signal processing, on-the-fly background subtraction, etc. offers improvements to both the detection sensitivity and the confidence level that a source is present. In addition, electronics advances have made portable systems easier to use and more intelligent compared to rate meters used 15 years ago. We propose to investigate which of these enhancements can be incorporated into BAG-X and to define a design approach for a new system.
