New device can detect gamma rays and identify radioactive isotopes

The researchers have demonstrated a cost-effective alternative for inspecting cargo containers entering U.S. ports

The cosmic rays that are the subject of this study come from outside our solar system but within our Galaxy and are called galactic cosmic rays

If the technique can be scaled up and proven under real inspection conditions, it could significantly improve the ability to prevent the smuggling of dangerous nuclear materials

In a move that could have huge implications for national security, researchers have created a very sensitive and tiny detector that is capable of detecting radiation from various sources at room temperature. The detector is eight to nine orders of magnitude –100 million to as high as 1 billion — times faster than the existing technology, and a Texas A&M University at Galveston professor is a key player in the discovery.

Mobile radiation detectors deployed at international ports.