Californium-252 Solutions for the Military & Defense Industry

Frontier supports all branches of the US military and the Department of Homeland Security with californium-252 (Cf-252) neutron sources for portable isotopic neutron spectroscopy (PINS), and can supply international military and defense organizations with Cf-252 PINS sources as well.

In a PINS system, Cf-252 spontaneously emits neutrons, which penetrate the material being examined. This in turn induces the material to produce gamma rays, which are evaluated to determine the chemical makeup of the material.

PINS in Military and Defense Applications

In the military and defense industry, Cf-252 is used in PINS systems to safely determine the composition of material samples or containers and identify materials or devices that are dangerous or potentially life-threatening. PINS systems can identify a range of hazards including artillery and mortar projectiles, rockets, bombs, land mines, gas cylinders, IEDs, and chemical weapons.

PINS systems are highly portable, and come in various configurations including handheld models. This makes them easy to carry and use in the field, which eliminates the need to handle or transport materials to a lab or other facility for analysis.

Homeland Security

The US Department of Homeland Security uses PINS systems for border protection, customs, and National Guard operations in areas where suspicious packages, containers, or objects are found. These systems reduce the risk to personnel and the public by identifying hazards or weapons in situ without the need to open or handle them. Read more about the use of Cf-252 sources in PINS systems here

 

Contact Frontier to learn more about Cf-252 neutron sources for PINS or to request a free quote.