Micro-Detective® Next Generation ULTRA-LIGHT
Portable Hand-Held Radioisotope Identifier

New Features

• 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.

• Compact Flash type II and Secure Digital (SDIO) slots.

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.

• Built in neutron detector.

The Micro-Detective is truly the next generation portable nuclide identifier. The success of the ORTEC Detective family of nuclide identifiers is well known; hundreds of these are in daily use across the world in the fight against illicit nuclear trafficking and other illegal acts. They have become known as the “gold standard” for identification.

In developing the Micro-Detective, ORTEC engineers carefully examined the feedback received from hundreds of customer interactions. At 15.2 lbs, the Micro-Detective is a substantially smaller and lighter package than other Detective models, but retains all the best features of the pre-existing product. It incorporates additional functions as standard and implements several packaging improvements. The display is greatly improved; the package is now highly water and dust resistant.

It is important, however, to understand that Micro-Detective utilizes the same approach to nuclide identification that has proven so successful in the Detective family with the same size HPGe detector. In other words, its performance as an identifier is already well understood and documented.

An Impressive Pedigree

ORTEC Detectives are already deployed widely in the battle against illicit nuclear trafficking. Hundreds are being used world wide by (among others):

The Micro-Detective provides the same impressive identification capabilities.

Micro-Detective Benefit Overview

• "Expert Level" Determinations without need for an Expert, now in a light weight package.

• Simple to Operate: Bright, Clear SUNLIGHT READABLE display, touch sensitive screen, intuitive menus.

• High resolution gamma spectroscopy with confirmatory neutron detection.

• Definitive answers to the detection of illicit nuclear materials (SNM) trafficking in seconds, in a light weight 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.

• Gamma-Ray and Neutron Search Modes.

• SNM Search Mode™ finds SNM sources in the presence of other sources.

• “Run for ever cooler” ensures Instant availability at all times.

Undiminished Operational Capabilities

SEARCH: Count-rate scanning mode for location of gamma- and neutron- emitting sources. An audio alert using an external ear piece is provided, with an adjustable alarm threshold.

Detective SNM Search Mode™: Nuclide-specific “confidence meter” search mode for ²³⁵U, ²³⁹Pu, and neutron counts: helps avoid SNM false negatives. Helps locate SNM masked by other nuclides: key regions of the spectrum are monitored for ²³⁵U and ²³⁹Pu and a peak confidence displayed as a bar graph. Once the maximum steady reading of the bar graph has been located, the "confirm" key initiates the full identification algorithm. In combination, SNM Search and ID modes minimize BOTH false negatives and false positives.

Detective IDENTIFY: Proprietary scheme for identification and classification of gamma-emitting radionuclides. See specifications section for details.

GAMMA DOSE RATE: Gamma Dose Rate is monitored by the HPGe detector and by an internal compensated GM tube. The dose rate is displayed at all times. Dose rate units may be chosen as µSv/hr or mR/hr.

NEUTRON COUNT RATE: Neutron Count Rate is displayed continuously. The data can be quickly saved and transmitted for further offsite analysis.

GPS Position Information: A standard internal GPS receiver displays GPS coordinates which may be saved along with spectrum data for future use.

Storage of Data (spectrum, search data, ID results): To internal RAM and removable SD and CF (II) card (both slots are provided).

Computer Interfacing: USB connection to laptop. Spectral transfer by Microsoft^® ActiveSync. Remote control via Microsoft “remotedsp.exe” (supplied).

Wi-fi (802.11) interface is standard, communication software is optionally available.

Display

Micro-Detective has a new SUNLIGHT READABLE VGA Display with touch-sensitive screen.

The figure at right shows the main Detective operator screen. Gamma and neutron count rate and gamma dose rate are displayed continuously both numerically and in Bar-graph form. The battery life remaining is shown at the top. Menu navigation is highly intuitive.

The radionuclide gamma-ray spectrum may be displayed and manipulated (e.g., vertical scale, zoom) like a conventional multichannel analyzer.

Identification Messages

Help messages may appear on the main screen to assist the operator, such as:

            "Consistent with background, keep counting"
            "Count Rate consistent with background"
            "Elevated radiation field"
            "Possible beta emitter or unknown gamma"
            "Possible nuclear material"
            "Medical – positron emitter"

The form of the primary ID messages is:

            "Found CLASS(#)" or "Suspect CLASS(#)"

            where “CLASS” is
                                    Medical
                                    Industrial
                                    NORM
                                    Bremsstrahlung
                                    Other

            And "#" is the number of nuclides of that class identified.

In compliance with the IAEA specifications, nuclear materials and thorium-bearing NORM get special treatment. Possible messages include:

            "Found nuclear uranium"
            "Found nuclear plutonium"
            "Found nuclear neptunium"
            "Found NORM-Th"

If uranium has been detected, possible messages include:

            "Highly enriched uranium"
            "Depleted uranium"
            "Low enriched uranium"
            "Natural uranium"
            "Elevated uranium concentration"

For plutonium, depending on the nature of the sample, shielding and the counting statistics, the following may appear:

            "Count for >5 minutes for Weapons/Reactor Grade"

Followed by:

            "Pu"
            "Reactor Grade Pu"

or alternatively

            "Pu"
            "Weapons Grade Pu" 

Gamma-Ray Identification Performance Data for Uranium and Plutonium
(Data obtained from actual measurements by ORTEC personnel.)

Single Sources
Unless otherwise stated, these data were taken at a standard dose rate from the source of 500 nSv/h measured with a calibrated dose rate meter at the instrument detector face according to ANSI N42.34. When an absorber was present, the dose rate at the detector was measured THROUGH the absorber.

Unshielded and Shielded Uranium: DU, U-NAT, LEU, HEU
The time to identify as uranium, either unshielded or shielded by up to 5 mm steel, is <5 sec. For LEU and HEU samples, the type ("LEU" or "HEU") is also reported in <5 sec. LEU and HEU samples shielded by 1.6 mm lead are identified as Uranium in <5 sec.

Unshielded and Shielded Plutonium: Weapons Grade (WG), Reactor Grade (RG) (~60–93% ²³⁹Pu)
Time to identify as Pu, unshielded or shielded by up to 5 mm steel or 10 mm lead: <40 seconds for all types of Pu (with Cd filter if high Am content). For WG Pu the type "WG Pu" is also reported in less than 100 sec.

Mixtures
In all cases, the mixture consists of 500 nSv/h of the "mask" nuclide, added to the specified quantity of uranium or plutonium. The "dose ratio threshold" is defined to be the standard 500 nSv/h dose rate from the mask in ratio to the smallest dose rate from U or Pu detectable in the time stated.

Uranium at 500 nSv/h in the presence of ¹³⁷Cs or ⁵⁷Co mask (unshielded)
Time to identify as uranium <5 sec. For LEU and HEU, the type ("LEU" or "HEU") is also reported in <5 sec.

Uranium Dose ratio threshold for 60 second measurement in the presence of ¹³⁷Cs or ⁵⁷Co mask (Dose from mask: Dose from uranium)
>7:1 for identification as uranium unshielded
>3:1 shielded 5 mm steel.
>2:1 for reporting as LEU or HEU unshielded
>1.5:1 shielded 5 mm steel. 

Plutonium at 500 nSv/h in the presence of ¹³³Ba mask
Time to identify as Pu <60 sec, unshielded or shielded by 5 mm steel or 10 mm lead. Identified type as RG Pu or WG Pu in <300 sec.

Plutonium Dose ratio threshold for 5 minute measurement in the presence of ¹³³Ba mask
>6:1 for identification as Pu unshielded, >4:1 shielded by 5 mm steel or 10 mm lead.
>1:1 for reporting as WG Pu or RG Pu unshielded or shielded by 5 mm steel or 10 mm steel (with Cd filter if high Am content).

Ordering Information