Mon Mar 31 22:30:00 UTC 2025: **Physicists Develop Long-Range Radioactive Material Detector Using Lasers**
**Antofagasta, Chile – April 1, 2025** – A team of US physicists has made a significant breakthrough in radioactive material detection, developing a new method capable of identifying such materials from a distance using carbon dioxide lasers. The research, published March 4th in Physical Review Applied, utilizes the phenomenon of avalanche breakdown to detect alpha particles from 10 meters away – a tenfold increase in range compared to previous experiments.
The technique leverages a laser’s long-wavelength infrared radiation to accelerate electrons released during radioactive decay. These electrons initiate a chain reaction, creating microplasmas that generate a detectable optical backscatter. The researchers amplified this backscatter signal, significantly improving detection sensitivity. Fluorescence imaging was used to analyze the plasma, and a mathematical model accurately predicted the backscatter signals, validating the technique’s effectiveness.
While currently effective for detecting alpha particles, the team suggests the method, with scaling of laser focusing optics, could potentially detect gamma-ray emitting sources like caesium-137 from distances around 100 meters. However, extending detection range to 1 kilometer or more would present challenges, requiring larger optics and higher laser energies to overcome signal weakening and interference from background radiation and atmospheric conditions.
This innovative technology holds significant promise for national defense and emergency response, enabling rapid and safe detection of radioactive materials from extended distances. The advancements pave the way for improved security measures and enhanced response capabilities in situations involving radioactive threats.
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