Presented herein are systems and methods that provide for calibration and/or testing of liquid scintillation counters (LSCs) using an electronic test source. In certain embodiments, the electronic test source described herein provides for emission of emulated radioactive event test pulses that emulate light pulses produced by a scintillator as a result of radioactive decay of a variety of different kinds of radioactive emitters (e.g., beta, alpha, and gamma emitters). Additionally, in certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein provide for the emission of emulated background light (e.g., luminescence and after-pulses) from the electronic test source. The emulated radioactive event test pulses and, optionally, emulated background light can be used for the calibration and/or testing of LSCs, in place of hazardous radioactive material and/or volatile chemicals. Accordingly, the systems and methods described herein dramatically improve the calibration and/or testing of liquid scintillation counters.

A low cost, rapid, flexible radiation detector uses inorganic metal halide precursors and dyes that respond to self-quenching hybrid scintillation. Remote, high-contrast, laser sensing can be used to determine when exposure of the detector to radiation occurs (even temporally).

A low cost, rapid, flexible radiation detector uses inorganic metal halide precursors and dyes that respond to self-quenching hybrid scintillation. Remote, high-contrast, laser sensing can be used to determine when exposure of the detector to radiation occurs (even temporally).

A .sup.14C testing bottle, a .sup.14C testing device, a .sup.14C testing method, a sampling and preparation system and its implementation method are provided. The .sup.14C testing bottle includes a pressure-bearing shell and a sample bin positioned in the pressure-bearing shell. A cavity is arranged in the sample bin and the .sup.14C testing bottle is provided with an injection port connected to the cavity. The sample bin may diffuse the light produced in the cavity and at least part of the sample bin is transparent. An optical fiber channel is set on the pressure-bearing shell. One end of the optical fiber channel is connected with an external scintillation counter, and the other end of the optical fiber channel is connected with the transparent part of the sample bin. The .sup.14C testing bottle may measure the .sup.14C content in the carbon dioxide sample rapidly.

A .sup.14C testing bottle, a .sup.14C testing device, a .sup.14C testing method, a sampling and preparation system and its implementation method are provided. The .sup.14C testing bottle includes a pressure-bearing shell and a sample bin positioned in the pressure-bearing shell. A cavity is arranged in the sample bin and the .sup.14C testing bottle is provided with an injection port connected to the cavity. The sample bin may diffuse the light produced in the cavity and at least part of the sample bin is transparent. An optical fiber channel is set on the pressure-bearing shell. One end of the optical fiber channel is connected with an external scintillation counter, and the other end of the optical fiber channel is connected with the transparent part of the sample bin. The .sup.14C testing bottle may measure the .sup.14C content in the carbon dioxide sample rapidly.

An inspection system with radiation-induced false count mitigation includes an illumination source configured to illuminate a sample and a liquid-cooling coincidence detector, which includes an illumination detector to detect illumination from the sample, a liquid-cooling device for regulating a temperature of the illumination detector via a liquid, and photodetectors to detect light generated in the liquid in response to particle radiation. The liquid-cooling coincidence detector may also include controllers to identify a set of illumination detection events based on an illumination signal received from the illumination detector, identify a set of radiation detection events based on radiation signals received from the photodetectors, compare the set of radiation detection events to the set of illumination detection events to identify a set of coincidence events, and exclude the set of coincidence events from the set of illumination detection events to generate a set of identified features on the sample.

A large-area directional radiation detection system useful in detecting shielded radiological weapons may include a large number of prism-shaped detectors stacked in a two-dimensional array of particle detectors in which alternate detectors are displaced frontward and rearward in, for example, a checkerboard-type arrangement of detectors. If a source of radiation is in front of the array, the frontward detectors act as collimators for the rearward detectors, thereby producing a narrow detection peak among the rearward detectors. The lateral position of the detection peak indicates the lateral position of the source, and the width of the detection peak indicates the distance of the source from the detector array, thereby providing a three-dimensional determination of the source location. The high detection efficiency and large solid angle of the detector array enable rapid detection of even well-shielded threat sources at substantial distances, while simultaneously determining the positions of the detected sources.

A large-area directional radiation detection system useful in detecting shielded radiological weapons may include a large number of prism-shaped detectors stacked in a two-dimensional array of particle detectors in which alternate detectors are displaced frontward and rearward in, for example, a checkerboard-type arrangement of detectors. If a source of radiation is in front of the array, the frontward detectors act as collimators for the rearward detectors, thereby producing a narrow detection peak among the rearward detectors. The lateral position of the detection peak indicates the lateral position of the source, and the width of the detection peak indicates the distance of the source from the detector array, thereby providing a three-dimensional determination of the source location. The high detection efficiency and large solid angle of the detector array enable rapid detection of even well-shielded threat sources at substantial distances, while simultaneously determining the positions of the detected sources.

A technique for determining the three-dimensional position of radiation interaction in a scintillator is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a scintillation event within a scintillator to produce a measured detector response, by using a photodetector that has a planar surface optically coupled to the scintillator and that has a plurality of pixels defined on the planar surface. The method further comprises calculating a spatial distribution of photons, resulting from the scintillation event, across the planar surface of the detector, and determining an angle-dependent quantum efficiency of the photodetector, associated with the scintillation event. The method further comprises calculating a detector response of the photodetector based on the spatial distribution of photons and the angle-dependent quantum efficiency, to produce a calculated detector response; and computing a position in three dimensions of the scintillation event based on the calculated detector response and the measured detector response.

A technique for determining the three-dimensional position of radiation interaction in a scintillator is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a scintillation event within a scintillator to produce a measured detector response, by using a photodetector that has a planar surface optically coupled to the scintillator and that has a plurality of pixels defined on the planar surface. The method further comprises calculating a spatial distribution of photons, resulting from the scintillation event, across the planar surface of the detector, and determining an angle-dependent quantum efficiency of the photodetector, associated with the scintillation event. The method further comprises calculating a detector response of the photodetector based on the spatial distribution of photons and the angle-dependent quantum efficiency, to produce a calculated detector response; and computing a position in three dimensions of the scintillation event based on the calculated detector response and the measured detector response.