Radiation Detection Essentials
New to radiation detection? This page maps the fundamentals—what radiation is, how we detect it, and where detection systems operate in the real world.
The Basics
Start here if you're new to the field.
Radiation Detection for Dummies: A Comprehensive Guide
What is radiation? How do detectors work? A complete introduction to ionizing radiation, detector types (gas-filled, scintillation, semiconductor), and why detection matters.
Detector Technologies
How the hardware actually works.
Helium-3 vs Helium-4 as Neutron Detector Gases
A detailed comparison of mechanisms, efficiency, costs, and applications. Why He-4 is emerging as a viable alternative.
Assessing Airborne Radiation Detectors on Drones
NaI, CeBr₃, and CZT detectors compared for drone-mounted applications. Real test data from Cs-137 source detection.
AI in Radiation Monitoring Networks
How machine learning is being applied in RadNet, EURDEP, SPEEDI, and border systems to interpret data and reduce false alarms.
Applications by Sector
Where detection systems operate—and why.
Borders & Security
Radiation Portal Monitors: How RPMs Safeguard Borders
How ports, border crossings, and facilities use portal monitors to screen vehicles and cargo for radioactive threats.
Protecting Public Events from Nuclear Threats
Security measures, detection methods, and emergency response strategies for large gatherings.
Industrial Safety
Radioactive Scrap: Risks and Detection in Scrap Yards
How radioactive material enters the scrap stream, what happens when it's missed, and how detection systems prevent costly incidents.
Environmental Monitoring
Drones in Chernobyl's Red Forest
How drone-mounted detectors are transforming radiation mapping in contaminated zones.
Radioactive Materials in Fires: Co-60 and Cs-137 Risks
What happens when industrial radiation sources are caught in fires—implications for emergency response.
Threat Landscape
Context for why detection matters.
Are We Ready for a 'Dirty Bomb' Attack?
What radiological dispersal devices are, how they work, and why they're more disruptive than deadly.
How Countries Screen Imported Goods for Radiation
From U.S. port security to Japan's post-Fukushima vigilance—international approaches to preventing radioactive materials from entering supply chains.
Stay Current
Monthly Newswire
Contracts, product launches, regulatory shifts, and what they signal for the industry. Published monthly.
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