David Kramer has stated the current helium-3 supply situation very well. However, he appears to be less informed about commercially available neutron detection systems. He states that backpack and handheld detection units being purchased by multiple government agencies all contain 3He. Nucsafe Inc has supplied military and police units internationally with backpacks, briefcases, and mobile systems that use lithium-6 glass fibers. The company has produced more than 10 million meters of the glass fiber. The 6Li detectors are more durable than gas-filled ones, are safer in hostile environments, and can be repaired with light-blocking tape even after having been shot with a high-powered rifle.
© 2010 American Institute of Physics.
2010
American Institute of Physics