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Argonne's Ray Klann, co-developer of
the compact neutron detector, was featured in a live
interview on MSNBC last week, and his work was also
spotlighted on CNN's "Inspector Gadget" program. In
both cases, Argonne's homeland security role was
prominently mentioned. Ray Klann's work was also a
story in Electronic Engineering Times.
The portable detector, developed by the Technology
Development Division, could assist inspectors
charged with preventing the unauthorized use of
nuclear materials. The heart of the device is a 1-mm
wafer of gallium arsenide (GaAs), a semiconductor
similar to silicon. When coated with boron or
lithium, GaAs can detect neutrons, such as those
emitted by fissile materials that fuel nuclear
weapons. Since the detectors are portable and are
powered by less than 50 volts, they also can be used
by weapons inspectors to monitor nuclear facilities.
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