Real time identification and tracking of radioactive materials carried by humans

The carriage of gamma-emitting radioactive materials for illicit purposes (i.e. improvised nuclear explosive devices [INEDs] and radiological dispersion devices [RDDs]) represents a significant challenge for international nuclear security - as evidenced by both the IAEA and UK's Royal Society. While the infrastructure to covertly monitor for such materials within vehicles, containers and the freight network has seen significant advancement in the past 5-years, the systems used to discretely monitor for radioactive and/or nuclear materials carried by humans are much less advanced.

This PhD will work to develop a suite of fully spectroscopic real-time radioactive source identification and tracking systems; utilising a fusion of novel scintillator detectors, combined into compact geometric arrays, and machine vision/position tracking algorithms. These systems could be deployed at strategic sites (e.g. airports, transport nodes and high-value public spaces) to detect, identify and track materials where significant human footfall and potential threats exist.