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CO2 laser enables long-range detection of radioactive material
Remote detection of radioactive material could play an important role in nuclear disaster response and nuclear security
(Courtesy: Shutterstock/fewerton)Researchers have demonstrated that they can remotely detect radioactive material from 10 m away using short-pulse CO 2 lasers – a distance over ten times farther than achieved via previous methods. By counting these “plasma balls” and calibrating them against the backscattered laser signal, the researchers could link fluorescence intensity to the density of ionization in the air, and use that to determine the type of radiation source. Choi agrees, noting that accurately quantifying both the amount and type of radioactive material continues to be a significant hurdle to realising remote sensing technologies in the field.
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