Should first responders purchase an instrument that has a sensor that only detects gamma radiation above a certain energy range (e.g. an energy compensated GM)?
We feel it is important that the customer realizes the limitations of instruments that only detect gamma radiation above a certain energy level. We advise that you consider a rate meter that detects gamma between the energy ranges of 15 keV and 10 MeV and also detects alpha, beta and x-radiation. It is important for a first responder to be able to detect alpha, beta and low energy gamma radiation in addition to high energy gamma radiation because there are many radionuclides that only emit alpha, beta or low energy gamma radiation. If a first responder has an instrument that only detects high energy gamma radiation, that person would not be aware of many possible dangerous radionuclides that could be used for a dirty bomb. For example, Americium 241 mostly emits alpha radiation as well as a little bit of low energy gamma radiation. Americium 241 is found in household smoke detectors and many industrial devices, and this radionuclide could easily be gathered in quantities large enough t
