USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

Real-Time Portable Neutron Spectroscopy

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Defense Threat Reduction Agency 		Award ID:
83195 		Program Year/Program:
2007 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
T071-002-0080 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Michigan Aerospace Corporation
1777 Highland Drive, Suite B Ann Arbor, MI -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2007
Title: Real-Time Portable Neutron Spectroscopy
Agency / Branch: DOD / DTRA
Contract: HDTRA1-07-P-0240
Award Amount: $99,959.00
 

Abstract:

One of the critical gaps in homeland security is the inability to efficiently detect and identify kilogram-size samples of Special Nuclear Materials (SNM, uranium and transuranic elements). Unlike other forms of radiation produced by SNM (e.g. gamma rays), penetrating neutron emission is unique to fissionable material and difficult to obscure with passive shielding. The current state-of-the-art in neutron detection is not suitable for field applications. Michigan Aerospace Corporation, in collaboration with Professor James Ryan and his group at University of New Hampshire, proposes to develop a compact, light weight neutron spectroscopy instrument. This instrument, based on the successful Fast Neutron Imaging Telescope prototype, will be sensitive to neutron energies < 1 Mev, and will have a response time suitable for identification of materials both in passive and active interrogation. The proposed instrument is based on the Fast Neutron Imaging Telescope (FNIT), a Position Sensitive Plastic Scintillator Detector conceived and developed at the University of New Hampshire for the Inner Heliospheric Sentinels program. Such a neutron imaging device is highly suitable for locating SNM by detecting fission neutrons and reconstructing images of their source. The instrument will be able to locate a neutron point source and report the fission spectrum.

Principal Investigator:

Dominique Fourguette
Senior Scientist
7349758777
dfourguette@michiganaerospace.com

Business Contact:

Pete Tchoryk
Chief Executive Officer
7349758777
ptchoryk@michiganaerospace.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

MICHIGAN AEROSPACE CORP.
1777 Highland Drive Suite B Ann Arbor, MI 48108

EIN/Tax ID: 383323642
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No