DetectionDynasil wins DHS award for radiation detection
Dynasil Corporation’s research division, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD), was recently named DHS’ small business winner for radiation and nuclear detection for 2011; the award is meant to honor small businesses that are excelling in innovative achievement and demonstrate a commitment to national security; RMD was recognized particularly for its development of two new radiation detection materials, strontium iodide and CLYC crystals; DHS is especially keen to develop these new radiation detection materials as the current industry standard, helium-3, is suffering from major shortages
Dynasil Corporation’s research division, Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD), was recently named DHS’ small business winner for radiation and nuclear detection for 2011.
The award is meant to honor small businesses that are exceling in innovative achievement and demonstrate a commitment to national security.
RMD was recognized particularly for its development of two new radiation detection materials, strontium iodide and CLYC crystals. The two substances are capable of detecting nuclear and radioactive materials in all environments and can be used for both nuclear weapons detection and civilian radiation leak detection.
DHS is especially keen to develop these new radiation detection materials as the current industry standard, helium-3, is suffering from major shortages.
In 2010 demand for helium-3 was projected to be 76,000 liters per year, but the United States only produces 8,000 liters of it a year. Moreover, last year the U.S. stockpile of helium-3 was at less than 48,000 liters.
Helium-3 is currently produced by harvesting tritium, a heavy isotope of hydrogen that is used to enhance the yield of nuclear weapons. Tritium has not been produced since 1988 and led to reduced helium-3 production levels.
RMD’s new substances are the key enabling technologies for DHS’ Domestic Nuclear Detection Office’s (DND) Advanced Radiation Monitoring Devices (ARMD) program.
Current radiation detectors that DHS employs are often too expensive, too small, or too frequently give off false alarms. To overcome these technical challenges, RMD is developing a new generation of radiation-detection materials and portable devices that can measure high radiation levels and detect if terrorists are attempting to smuggle in fissile material.
RMD has an extensive research and development portfolio and was acquired by Dynasil in 2008.
Dynasil was founded in 2004 and has offices in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and the United Kingdom.
