Design and Optimization of a Directional Radiation Detection System

Radiation detectors are essential for upholding nuclear security and safety. The main objective of this study is to design and develop a new radiation detection system that can locate the position of a radioactive source using Geiger-Muller (GM) detectors. Three GM detectors are utilized in this system, with their relative angles known. The system collects data on radiation exposure levels in the immediate area surrounding the GM detectors and sends it to a Raspberry Pi 4 processor. After that, a MATLAB algorithm analyzes the data using localization methods to determine the source direction. To provide a user-friendly experience when using the system, a graphical user interface (GUI) was designed and implemented to be used with the system. The benefit of the localization methods that can be applied with MATLAB algorithms is that they offer great accuracy, rapid response, and low cost. The methods can be applied in fields like environmental monitoring, homeland security, and nuclear power plant safety, in addition to locating lost radioactive materials and other radiation security and safety concerns. An experimental setup is prepared to test the radiation detection system in a laboratory environment. A Cs-137-point source was used to study the system response. The results show that the system can detect a point source accurately when the source is stationary, while the location is not as accurate while the source is moving.