New nuclear detection technology set to thwart development of 'dirty bombs'

The Modular Detection System for Special Nuclear Material (MODES_SNM) has been developed under a European Commission FP7 programme spanning the continent and has already been trialled by customs authorities in the ports of Rotterdam and Dublin.

Consortium members include Padova and Insubria universities in Italy and Liverpool University in the UK; the National Centre for Nuclear Research in Poland; Arktis Radiation Detectors and ETH Zurich, Switzerland; CAEN Spa, Italy and end users such as the Revenue Commissioners in Ireland.

MODES_SNM, which can be configured to operate from a van or even a car or an SUV, is claimed to be the first system in the world to combine fast and thermal neutron detection. It is also a modular and man-portable system. The baseline unit comprises five neutron and two gamma modules, a computer and electronics module and a UPS battery.

Arktis founder and CEO Dr Rico Chandra said modifications have been made to the system following the port trials, responding to requests from the end users, but these were minor. The system is now available commercially and he expects the first order to be placed by a European user before the end of the first quarter next year.