The range now includes instruments with and without neutron detectors, two choices of HPGe crystal sizes, and two packaging options: the “classic” Detective format and the new and exciting “Micro-Detective” which reduces weight by 40%.

Literally hundreds of Detective instruments in the field attest to the performance and reliability of the technology.

In the Interdiction of Illicit Nuclear Trafficking you can’t afford to get it wrong; you need an ORTEC Detective. The alternative is unthinkable.

The Germanium Proposition

ORTEC pioneered the use of HPGe Germanium detectors in homeland security applications in 2004 with the introduction of the Detective series of HPGe Isotope Identifiers. Since that time, many hundreds of these identifiers have been deployed across the world and are in use 24/7 in the war on terror. They are often used as the “final arbiter”  in situations where illicit trafficking is suspected. Germanium has been shown to be far superior to other detector materials in dealing with cases of shielding and of masking. The first figure shows the comparative energy resolution of HPGe, Sodium Iodide (NaI(Tl)) and PVT, plastic. It is self evident that the HPGe spectrum has considerably more structure than the others, making nuclide identification more reliable. (HPGe provides >40 times better resolution than NaI.)
There are two potential technical drawbacks to the use of HPGe detectors: the first is that they must be cryogenically cooled and the second is that they have relatively low Gross efficiency. The first drawback has been eliminated by ORTEC, through the use of low power Stirling cycle coolers, which have proven extremely reliable in their wide deployment within the ORTEC Detective series.   The second limitation (Gross efficiency) largely rests on a misunderstanding. This misunderstanding is that gross efficiency is an indicator of the ability of a radiation sensor to identify a nuclide. It is, but only in one specific case: namely the case of a single nuclide in a zero-background situation. In real cases, where the nuclide of interest is potentially obscured by other sources of background, the ability to “look for” the tell-tale “spikes” in the HPGe spectrum and ignore the rest of the data hugely benefits the system signal-to-noise ratio as can be seen in the example in the second figure.
15g WGPu with Ba-133 In this simulated masking scenario, the distinction between the weapons grade plutonium target and the Ba-133 mask is clear, and the WGPu may be identified with high confidence; even though in the 5 second acquisition very few counts are detected, they are in a very narrow band of energy, making them, statistically speaking, significantly higher than background. This is the HPGe performance proposition. ORTEC has developed proprietary methods of data analysis, in which data is evaluated continuously, to determine indications of the presence of the target radionuclides. That data set is then passed through a well-tested algorithm developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and licensed to ORTEC for use in these applications. The third figure shows a comparison between the 220-280 keV region of a Pu-239 spectrum taken with a NaI and a HPGe detector. The contrast shows clearly the HPGe proposition.

• "Expert Level" Determinations without need for an Expert.
• Simple to Operate: Bright, Clear Displays, touch sensitive screens, intuitive menus.
• High resolution gamma spectroscopy with confirmatory neutron detection in EX models.
• Definitive answers to the detection of illicit nuclear materials (SNM) trafficking in seconds, in a battery operated instrument.
• Fast, Simple and ULTRA-Reliable Classification of NORM, Medical, Industrial, SNM and Natural Isotopes, shielded and unshielded.
• Highly resistant to masking source interferences.
• ~20 to 100 times better than even the most advanced NaI and CZT instruments.
• “-100” models even faster to ID.
• Highest Sensitivity Detection of Neutron Sources in a hand-held instrument.
• Gamma-Ray and Neutron Search Modes.
• SNM Search Mode™ finds SNM sources in the presence of other sources.
• Instantly ready to use at all times, straight from the docking station.

The ORTEC Detective family of Hand-Held Radioisotope Identifiers (HHRIDs) has gained an unmatched reputation for performance in the rapid identification of radioisotopes in both suspected and actual cases of illicit nuclear materials trafficking.

Read more about the ORTEC Detective-EX and Detective-DX.

• 40% lighter than industry leading ORTEC Detective-EX®. 
• 50% reduction in overall size, made even smaller by removable handle. 
• More rugged: Enclosure, Display, and all perforations sealed against moisture and dust. Water spray resistant. 
• High visibility sunlight readable color TFT display. 
• Built-in Battery Charger, DC only required. 
• USB and Wireless 802.11 Communications. 
• Built in GPS. 
• Secure Digital (SDIO) slot. Retained Benefits 
• Same analytical performance and gamma sensitivity as the Detective-EX, proven hundreds of times over in the real world. 
• ANSI N42-34 compliant. 
• Optional built in neutron detector.

Read more about the ORTEC Micro-Detective and Micro-Detective-DX.

• One-handed control of instrument through two handle-mounted buttons, or through touchscreen. 
• Visual Alarms: LEDs provide clear and simple indication of nuclide type: threat, innocent or suspect, plus error indication. 
• Vibrating alarm built into handle. 
• 3-level auditory alarms can be routed through headphones. 
• “SMART” digital stabilizer. 
• Background subtraction allows for presence of high levels of natural background. 
• All alarms must be acknowledged by the operator to avoid being overlooked. 
• Expanded library with user selection of threat isotopes to match CONOPS.

Read more about the ORTEC Micro-Detective-HX.