Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
06:16
Femtosecond Laser Filaments for Use in Sub-Diffraction-Limited Imaging and Remote Sensing
Published on: April 25, 2019
8.0K
Remote detection of radioactive material using mid-IR laser-driven electron avalanche
Robert M Schwartz1, Daniel Woodbury1, Joshua Isaacs1
1Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
Science Advances
|March 28, 2019
Summary
This study demonstrates remote detection of radioactive materials using mid-infrared lasers. The technique uses laser-induced air breakdown, showing sensitivity to the presence and ionization level of radioactive sources.
Area of Science:
- Physics
- Laser Physics
- Nuclear Detection
Background:
- Remote detection of radioactive materials is challenging due to limited decay product range.
- Existing methods require proximity or are affected by shielding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a novel remote detection scheme for radioactive materials.
- To utilize mid-infrared laser-induced avalanche breakdown of air for this purpose.
Main Methods:
- Proof-of-principle experiment using a 3.9 μm mid-IR laser.
- Inducing avalanche breakdown in air and observing sensitivity to a radioactive source.
- Correlating temporal onset shift of avalanche breakdown with seed ionization.
Main Results:
- Observed on-off breakdown sensitivity to the presence of an external radioactive source.
- Demonstrated correlation between avalanche onset timing and source ionization degree.
- Verified experimental trends with numerical simulations and analyzed laser intensity scaling.
Conclusions:
- Mid-infrared laser-driven electron avalanche breakdown is a viable method for remote radioactive material detection.
- The technique shows promise for detecting shielded sources at a distance.
- Further development could enhance sensitivity and range for practical applications.
Related Concept Videos
03:18Radioactivity and Nuclear Equations
27.1K
Nuclear chemistry is the study of reactions that involve changes in nuclear structure. The nucleus of an atom is composed of protons and, except for hydrogen, neutrons. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number (Z) of the element, and the sum of the number of protons and the number of neutrons is the mass number (A). Atoms with the same atomic number but different mass numbers are isotopes of the same element.
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
A nuclide of an element has a specific number of protons and...
27.1K
03:23Types of Radioactivity
19.5K
The most common types of radioactivity are α decay, β decay, γ decay, neutron emission, and electron capture.
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
Alpha (α) decay is the emission of an α particle from the nucleus. For example, polonium-210 undergoes α decay:
19.5K
02:48Radioactive Decay and Radiometric Dating
37.0K
Radioactivity is a spontaneous disintegration of an unstable nuclide and is a random process, as all the nuclei in the sample do not decay simultaneously. The number of disintegrations per unit time is called the activity (A), which is directly proportional to the number of nuclei in the sample. The decay constant (λ) is an average probability of decay per nucleus in unit time.
37.0K
01:24Electron Carriers
91.6K
Electron carriers can be thought of as electron shuttles. These compounds can easily accept electrons (i.e., be reduced) or lose them (i.e., be oxidized). They play an essential role in energy production because cellular respiration is contingent on the flow of electrons.
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
91.6K
03:07Electron Affinity
43.1K
The electron affinity (EA) is the energy change for adding an electron to a gaseous atom to form an anion (negative ion).
43.1K
00:54Electron Behavior
107.8K
Overview
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...
107.8K