Sims, David

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices5-15-2008From Deep Space To Dirty Bombs; UNHScientists Retask TelescopeDavid SimsUNH Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and SpaceFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationSims, David, "From Deep Space To Dirty Bombs; UNH Scientists Retask Telescope" (2008). UNH Today. 453.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/453From Deep Space to Dirty Bombs; UNH Scientists Retask Telescope </strong></p>http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2008/may/ds15telescope.cfm.html[9/9/2016 8:40:50 AM] From Deep Space To Dirty Bombs; UNH ScientistsRetask TelescopeMedia Contact:  David Sims 603-862-5369Science WriterInstitute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and SpaceMay 15, 2008DURHAM, N.H. -- University of New Hampshire astrophysicist James Ryan knows how todetect radioactive emissions across the vast sweep of our galaxy.So when he watched National Guardsmen struggle to track down a radioactive source inside abuilding as they conducted a drill mocking a terrorist dirty-bomb operation, the proverbiallightbulb-in-the-head lit up."If we can detect radioactive aluminum on the other side of the galaxy we can find otherradioactive materials like cesium-137 or cobalt inside a building or on the other side of thestreet by the same method," Ryan says.Ryan was a member of the UNH research team that helped build and operate the gamma-rayimaging COMPTEL telescope onboard the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (CGRO), a 1991-2000 NASA mission dedicated to observing the high-energy universe.Knowing that the space telescope accurately pinpointed and made images of farawayradioactive elements like aluminum-26, which is produced by dying stars and emits gamma-rays, Ryan understood that the same basic technology could be retasked for work a littlecloser to home - like detecting, for example, radioactive medical waste obtainedsurreptitiously for use in making a dirty bomb.He and colleagues at UNH's Space Science Center dusted off two spare detectors made forCOMPTEL and created a telescope that could potentially be loaded on a truck and used forhomeland security work such as scanning shipping containers or buildings for radioactivematerials.The key operational aspect of the telescope, known as GRETA, short for the Gamma-rayExperimental Telescope Assembly, is that unlike other technologies such as Geiger counters orspectrometers it can accurately determine the direction from which a radioactive source isbeing emitted by creating an image.Of the mock National Guard exercise Ryan notes that while soldiers did have precisionspectrometers that can identify the source material, the isotope, and can determine if thatmaterial is natural or man-made, they are omni-directional instruments.Says Ryan, "So they might detect the presence of cesium but they won't know where it isunless they get right up close to it, they'd have to fish around inside the building." Which isFrom Deep Space to Dirty Bombs; UNH Scientists Retask Telescope </strong></p>http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/cj_nr/2008/may/ds15telescope.cfm.html[9/9/2016 8:40:50 AM]not an ideal scenario when the first responders have multiple issues to worry about like otherpotential hazards from pipe bombs or biological agents, as was the case in the high-stressdisaster exercise.Although more sophisticated technologies are currently under development, Ryan notes thatthere will be both a time lag and a big price tag associated with this while GRETA is acurrently available technology that can get the job done."Here's an instrument that has the sensitivity necessary for the job and it's available now," hesays.Earlier this week Ryan's UNH colleague, project engineer Jason Legere, presented informationabout GRETA and its abilities to the 2008 IEEE Conference on Technologies for HomelandSecurity, which brought together more than 300 innovators to focus on novel and innovativetechnologies addressing pressing national security problems."What I think impressed attendees the most about GRETA wasn't just its ability to locate andidentify radioactive materials, but to do so from a safe distance. This makes GRETA unique,"says Legere. -30Photograph available to download here:http://www.eos.sr.unh.edu/newsimage/comptel_gro.jpgPhoto caption: NASA’s Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Photo courtesy of NASA. 

From Deep Space To Dirty Bombs; UNH Scientists Retask Telescope

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From Deep Space To Dirty Bombs; UNH Scientists Retask Telescope

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