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Instrumentation For Multiple Radiation Detection Based On Novel Mercurous Halides For Nuclear Planetology

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NNX15CP70P
Agency Tracking Number: 150041
Amount: $124,464.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: T8.01
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2015
Award Year: 2015
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2015-06-17
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2016-06-17
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 616, 19 Loveton Circle
Sparks, MD 21152-9201
United States
DUNS: 808275890
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Henry Chen
 Prin. Scientist/Radiation Det.
 (410) 472-2600
 hchen@brimrose.com
Business Contact
 Diane Murray
Title: Business Official
Phone: (936) 588-6901
Email: dmurray@brimrosetechnology.com
Research Institution
 Fisk University
 Arnold Burger
 
1000 Seventeenth Avenue N
Nashville, TN 37208-3051
United States

 (615) 329-8516
 Domestic Nonprofit Research Organization
Abstract

We propose a spectrometer that employs a single room temperature semiconductor detector that can perform both gamma and neutron spectroscopy. The proposed detector is based on the novel mercurous halide materials, Hg2X2 (X=I, Cl, Br). The mercurous halides are new wide band-gap semiconductor detector materials that can provide radiation detection with low cost, high performance and long term stability. Despite years of research, no explored room temperature semiconductor detection candidates can satisfy all three features simultaneously. At Brimrose, we have successfully developed the growth procedures for high quality Hg2X2 crystals for long wavelength infrared (LWIR) imaging systems. Recently, we have been able to engineer our growth process toward gamma radiation detection and have demonstrated initial encouraging detector response from Hg2I2 to both gamma and alpha particle incident radiations. The focus will be on the material engineering aspect of the detector material itself (i.e., crystal growth and post growth processing), as well as on the detector fabrication and system design. The proposed mercurous halides-based nuclear instrument can be used onboard NASA's orbiters and landers for space planetology. Specifically, it can be used to determine surface and sub-surface composition of planetary bodies via both gamma spectroscopy and neutron spectroscopy.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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