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A novel collimator design enhances the detection capabilities of radiation portal monitors (RPMs) by improving sensitivity to localized radioactive sources while reducing nuisance alarms from large, distributed sources. This Â鶹ӰÒô is particularly beneficial for border security and nuclear facility monitoring, where accurate and selective threat detection is critical.

Description

The lattice collimator uses an optimized grid of vertical and horizontal radiation-absorbing slats to focus the detector’s sensitivity on the central detection zone. The horizontal slats reduce radiation background from the ground, while the vertical slats limit detection of off-angle sources. Unlike traditional collimators constrained by available geometry, this compact design fits more flexibly within existing RPM systems. By decreasing background interference and ignoring diffuse sources like naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM), this design improves the signal-to-noise ratio for point source detection. Some benefit can be realized with no algorithm improvements at all; additional benefits can be obtained with software upgrades within the RPM. The approach complements existing onboard analysis algorithms, making it a versatile upgrade for a wide range of deployed systems.

Benefits

• Enhances RPM sensitivity to point sources
• Reduces false alarms caused by distributed radioactive materials
• Compatible with existing RPMs and detection algorithms

Applications and Industries

• Border security and customs monitoring
• Nuclear facility access control
• Radiation screening in transportation hubs

Contact

To learn more about this technology, email partnerships@ornl.gov or call 865-574-1051.