The Bicron Thermo (now FLIR) IdentiFinder / FieldSpec is a fully featured isotope identification and search system. As your distance to the source of radiation increases, the 10x/sec (10Hz) beeps increase or decrease in frequency, and an alarm which is user set when you are approaching too close. To feel, hear and see this device in action is quite impressive indeed. This is being sold because I have two and only need one. My backup battery is completely dead, which is fine by me, because the factory defaults are really good. There are a lot of rumors and misconceptions about this instrument. Let's get that cleared up. First, here are some technical details. There are many models and subtypes of this device, and I can tell you exactly what you're working with here: There are three different detectors; a gamma scintillator, a GM tube, and a moderated He3T neutron probe. The primary detector is a 1.4 x 2 inch Thallium Enriched Sodium Iodide Scintillator Crystal; commonly known as the NaI(Tl) crystal. This is the industry standard for gamma spectrometers. It's properties are well known and predictable, and the Crystal is rather large, giving it excellent range. This is the crystal being used when the 1024 gamma and 512 neutron channels are being simultaneously analyzed. The secondary detector is A Moderated Helium-3 detector; commonly known as an He3T, for neutron detection and spectrometry. This is used for the 512 channels of neutron spectrometry, or in some models, as a detector which considers the amount of energy in every neutron but is not accessible via the user interface. The third detector (yes, this one has three) is a small halogen-quenched Geiger-Muller tube. It is used in case the detector is being exposed to very high doses of radiation to which you and I don't want to be exposed. It seems to be used as a secondary counting instrument as well when running lengthy spectrum analysis models on the computer, but somebody from Thermo or FLIR would have to confirm that. That means this is in fact the coveted "neutron model". When in the hip holster, it tallies neutron counts and combines the energy of the neutrons with the energy of each photon and gives you a tallied dose in REM OR Sieverts. It does not do Gray; as the Gray is not an equivalent dose. It also quantifies the AMOUNT OF MATERIAL in Curies or Bq from a meter away after the isotope is known! That's just neat. It also acts as both a real time a cumulative dosimeters not REM or Sv/hour, for both gamma and neutron doses. Separate alarms can be set for gamma and neutron doses. This is particularly useful for people who work in the secondary containment at power plants, and scientists who synthesize and handle Californium isotopes; namely Cf252. The blue source on the top is a very small amount of cesium 137; about 250 gamma photons per second at 662keV are hitting the sodium iodide detector. It is safe to help this hip holstered, as that is a dose is truly negligible. That is used to calibrate the device when it is turned on. It's a reference source. It passes all self checks, calibrates to the built in Cs137 source, and has not failed in identifying over 15 different isotopes that I have. The radium overwhelms it when I put it up to pitchblende, and that's what it identifies. Obviously, it easily detects and identifies smoke detector sources and radium too. It's always fun to identify household. The backup battery is teetering on the brink. It consistently passes the checks, which include backup battery function, so it may have plenty of life. That's just a heads up in case you want to order one; it's easy to change from just inside the battery case. It runs on four AA batteries or a 9 volt battery pack. There is a special 9 volt power pack available, but it's not worth getting. I speak from experience. 4 AA batteries last 8-10 hours of continuous use. The pouch on the side of the hip holster holds a second battery pack or another 4 AA batteries. It connects to a PC using WinTCMA32 software to provide real time spectrum analysis and more advanced analysis for complex situations where dozens of gamma emitting fission products need to be identified but there's enough time to do that on a computer. It has to be used on a 32 bit OS. I recommend Windows 7 64 bit ultimate edition with the free 32 bit XP emulator from Microsoft; as I use in all of my own system. You will receive a cable to connect it to USB. While you need to get a copy of the software from Thermo licensed to you, I will be sending the approximately 20 megabyte software suite on CD. This device really needs no sales pitch. It truly does everything you can imagine that it does. 1024 channels of gamma spectrometry, 512 channels of neutron spectroscopy, and you're looking at the actual unit which will be sent. What other instrument could make sitting in front of a cancer center and seeing the dozen or so isotopes used there fun? It's a great way to learn to use it; just put some tape over the speaker or turn the sound off, for the sake of the folks you're bumming some rads from. The NH/9V is the only one with the simultaneous independent neutron and gamma spectrometry plus both independent and integrated dosimeter readings for both. I am always touting single channel spectrometers because they help people learn concepts... This is for people who either don't need to learn the basics, or who work in the industry, or who would like to get this instrument knowing it will be needed down the line, at an unfathomably low price from a reputable specialty seller of health physics equipment. I have done all the checks required by Thermo for this instrument to be calibrated. The backup battery is almost dead and works sporadically, but is easily replaceable. I can't calibrate and certify it because the backup battery is dead, or technically almost dead, but it would not be ethical to certify is based on it saying pass when it doesn't always pass due to that battery! Sometimes it will, sometimes it will not. Battery swaps are an easy DIY thing, so this isn't going to cause a problem even if you rely on the backup battery. Enjoy. I know you will!!!
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