Design and implementation of a low cost, high performance ionizing radiation source detection and source direction finding system

This study shows the design, implementation, and test results of a low-cost portable radiation-detector system relies on directionally designed multi detector probe that works in Geiger-Müller counting mode with single chip solution. The proposed can perform functions detecting ionizing radiation source, gamma showing direction angle source relative to position device. finding (RDF) consists electronic sections are mounted metal box. has cast housing made lead material it 8 directional slots for placing optically isolated PIN diode arrays where each array 4 parallelly connected BPW 34 model diode. also blocks incident rays from unintended directions provides sensing diodes. box contains low noise amplifiers pulse shaping boards assigned channel arrays, signal inverter board, step-up high voltage 12 V battery parallel processing FPGA board an embedded VHDL software process all channels simultaneously execute estimation algorithm. adjustable bias applied be displayed seven-segment display located front unit so different models diodes used tested levels. It HMI touch screen user interface displaying Cpm or Cps values channel; 360-degree scale its pointer indicator numerically degrees. as detected within ±45° interval. success this interval is 99.22%. was energy sources (241Am, 9.761 μCi, 59.54 keV, 137Cs 661, 3.7 MBq, keV 60Co, 1173 1332 keV) showed good sensitivity performance level ray detection. major outcome contribution work literature therefore design production details hand-held locator prototype; which light, compact system.