Development of gamma instrumentation

The detection and quantification of ionizing radiation has been a topic of great interest since its discovery more than a century ago. Over the decades - and the development of the photomultiplier - solid scintillation detectors became standards, combining good resolution and simplicity of use. Equipment based on this technology is widely used in geological and environmental applications. As a result of the obsolescence of the available instrument cluster, two technical groups of the CNEA started a project for the development of gamma instrumentation, with similar benefits as the equipment available in the international market. So far, three achievements have been accomplished: a prototype portable gamma spectrometer, a prototype portable gamma ray radiometer and 6 portable gamma ray radiometers, which is currently underway. The main features of each of these developments are shown in this paper, with special attention to the gamma spectrometer, which is a byproduct of the AR-PET Project, which uses electronic technology with Field Programmable Gate Array for digital signal processing. It is worth noting the convenience of local development, in terms of costs and ease of maintenance, and the possibility of developing, from these equipments, other similar to be used in fields such as radiation protection and safeguards. (author)