Recent Developments in High-Resolution-gamma-ray Cargo-Inspection Technology

Under US Department of Homeland Security sponsorship, Spectral Labs Incorporated has developed a prototype high-resolution retrofit for an existing mobile VACIS, named the High-Resolution Imaging System (HiRIS). The legacy 256 NaI detectors in the VACIS detector column were replaced with 576 CsI detectors, more than doubling the pixel count. Using SiPMs to replace conventional PMTs allowed the packing of more detectors in the same VACIS detector enclosure. Legacy analog signal-processing electronics were replaced with advanced digital signal-processing electronics. Replacing gross counting in the legacy system with multichannel analysis of the counts from each detector will allow better control of detector crosstalk. The HiRIS detector modules were installed on a VACIS truck refurbished to as-new condition. Initial testing of the HiRIS prototype demonstrates enhanced spatial resolution by a factor of two as compared to the legacy system, without any degradation in throughput capability (20 containers per hour).