Remote detection of radioactive material using high-power pulsed electromagnetic radiation

Dongsung Kim, Dongho Yu, Ashwini Sawant, Mun Seok Choe, Ingeun Lee, Sung Gug Kim and EunMi Choi ()
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Dongsung Kim: School of Natural Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Dongho Yu: School of Natural Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Ashwini Sawant: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Mun Seok Choe: School of Natural Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Ingeun Lee: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
Sung Gug Kim: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
EunMi Choi: School of Natural Science, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Remote detection of radioactive materials is impossible when the measurement location is far from the radioactive source such that the leakage of high-energy photons or electrons from the source cannot be measured. Current technologies are less effective in this respect because they only allow the detection at distances to which the high-energy photons or electrons can reach the detector. Here we demonstrate an experimental method for remote detection of radioactive materials by inducing plasma breakdown with the high-power pulsed electromagnetic waves. Measurements of the plasma formation time and its dispersion lead to enhanced detection sensitivity compared to the theoretically predicted one based only on the plasma on and off phenomena. We show that lower power of the incident electromagnetic wave is sufficient for plasma breakdown in atmospheric-pressure air and the elimination of the statistical distribution is possible in the presence of radioactive material.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15394

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