Inverse collimator based radiation imaging detector system

A radiation imaging system has been developed using the concept of inverse collimation, where a narrow shielding pencil is used instead of a classical collimator. This imaging detector is smaller, lighter and less expensive than a traditionally collimated detector, and can produce a spherical raster image of radiation sources in its surroundings. A prototype was developed at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited -- Chalk River Laboratories, and the concept has been successfully proven in experiments using a point source as well as real sources in a high ambient field area. Such a radiation imaging system is effective in locating radiation sources in areas where accessibility is low and risk of radiological contamination is high, with applications in decontamination and decommissioning activities, nuclear material processing labs, etc. (author)