On-line experiments on rapid detection of radionuclides based on sequential Bayesian analysis

A rapid detection method based on sequential Bayesian analysis provides a new perspective on national security in preventing the smuggling and illegal transportation of nuclear materials. In this paper, a sequential Bayesian analysis system, which mainly consists of a LaBr 3 (Ce) scintillator detector, a pulse analyzer based on a field-programmable gate array technique, and a sequential Bayesian analysis processor, is developed to directly validate the feasibility of sequential Bayesian analysis. The detection ability of 60 Co, 137 Cs, 133 Ba, and 152 Eu for a specific radioactivity is studied and quantified using the maximum detection distance and the equivalent minimum detection activity.