Stabilized, hand-held, gamma-ray verification instrument for special nuclear materials

A hand-held instrument has been developed that can verify the presence or absence of particular radioisotopes by analyzing gamma-ray spectra. The instrument is similar to recent, microprocessor-based, search instruments, but has LED (light-emitting diode) detector stabilization, three adjustable regions of interest, and additional operating programs for spectrum analysis. Its spectrum analysis capability can verify the presence or absence of specific plutonium isotopes in containers or verify the presence of uranium and its enrichment. The instrument retains the search capability, light weight, and low-power requirement of its predecessors. Its ready portability, detector stabilization, and simple operation allow individuals with little technical training to verify the contents of SNM (special nuclear materials) containers