System and method for directional detection of radiation
A system for directional detection of radiation, comprises a plurality of scintillating crystals, responsive to the radiation and being arranged three-dimensionally, with voids between adjacent crystals, such that there are crystals that are inner and crystals that are outer within the arrangement. The system also comprises a plurality of light sensors coupled to the crystals for receiving optical signals from the crystals and responsively generating electrical signals, and a data processor receiving an electrical signal separately from each light sensor and calculating a direction of the radiation based on relative intensities of the signals and mutual occultation among different crystals.
1. A system for directional detection of radiation, comprising:
a plurality of scintillating crystals, responsive to the radiation and being arranged three-dimensionally, with voids between adjacent crystals, such that there are crystals that are inner and crystals that are outer within said arrangement;
a plurality of light sensors coupled to said crystals for receiving optical signals from said crystals and responsively generating electrical signals; and
a data processor having a circuit configured for receiving an electrical signal separately from each light sensor, and calculating at least a direction of the radiation based on relative intensities of said signals and mutual occultation among different crystals.
2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said light sensors is a solid state photomultiplier.
3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each of at least a few of said crystals has a volumetric aspect ratio of less than 3.
4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least a few of said crystals have a generally cubic shape.
5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a largest diameter of at least a few of said crystals is less than 50 mm.
6. The system according to claim 1 , comprising at least 50 scintillating crystals.
7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said crystals is at least partially coated by a material that is reflective to the radiation.
8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each scintillating crystal is coupled to one light sensor.
9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each scintillating crystal is coupled to more than one light sensor.
10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said scintillating crystals is selected from the group consisting of CsI(Tl), Ce: GAGG, NaI(Tl), LaBr 3 (Ce), CeBr 3 , and CLYC.
11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said solid state photomultipliers comprises a silicon photomultiplier.
12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said circuit of said data processor is also configured for determining a spectrum of the radiation.
13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said scintillating crystals are responsive to gamma radiation.
14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said scintillating crystals are responsive to beta radiation.
15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said scintillating crystals are responsive to alpha radiation.
16. A medical imaging system, comprising the system according to claim 1 .
17. An autonomous radiation detector, comprising an autonomous vehicle and the system according to claim 1 .
18. The system according to claim 1 , being mounted on a satellite.
19. A method of decontaminating a region, comprising:
detecting radiation direction using a directional radiation detection system,
locating a radiation source based on said direction, and
decontaminating or isolating said radiation source;
wherein said directional radiation detection system comprises:
a plurality of scintillating crystals, responsive to the radiation and being arranged three-dimensionally, with voids between adjacent crystals, such that there are crystals that are inner and crystals that are outer within said arrangement; and
a plurality of light sensors coupled to said crystals for receiving optical signals from said crystals and responsively generating electrical signals;
wherein said detecting said radiation direction comprises receiving an electrical signal separately from each light sensor, and calculating at least a direction of the radiation based on relative intensities of said signals and mutual occultation among different crystals.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein said calculating said direction comprises accessing a computer readable medium storing a library of library-distributions of signal intensities, wherein said library associates each library-distribution with a direction, and using said library to determine said direction.