Measurement equipment for the detection and identification of radioactive and nuclear (RN) material has a wide application area. The main application aspects are monitoring, search, and identification. A common goal is to gain reliable measurement results. In the past, the only way to assess the performance of a measuring device was to rely on the data given by the manufacturer of the device itself. Reliable test results from an independent third party are more than welcome. These tests can be performed against consensus standards in order to have reproducible test results, independent of the testing location and the performing laboratory. Fraunhofer INT has conceived and built a test environment to perform dynamic and static test measurements using neutron and gamma sources. Tests can be performed in accordance with the IEC and ANSI standards as well as the ITRAP+10 test procedures. This includes qualification tests of truck portal monitors with the dynamic test system. Generally, the effects of one test parameter on other test parameters are not considered in the test procedures. For example, the accuracy of the dose rate may depend on the energy range of the radioactive source used. Besides the overview of the test systems the paper will address restrictions, problems and limitations of the possible qualification measurements as well as potential limitations arising from the given test procedures themselves.

The correct functioning of detectors for ionizing radiation can be crucial for protecting their respective operators, e.g. first responders tasked with relief efforts in a disaster scenario. Device reliability is essential as well when striving to prevent illicit radionuclide trafficking. In order to assess the vulnerability of radiation detectors against Intentional Electromagnetic Interference (IEMI) by means of High Power Microwaves (HPM), we submitted a selection of portable devices to pulsed rf waves in an open TEM waveguide. Test frequencies ranged from 260 MHz to 3.4 GHz. On all detectors, artificial radiation readings could be induced, sometimes exceeding background values by almost three orders of magnitude

Counter-acting the potential misuse of nuclear and radioactive material has been a subject of tremendous importance for quite a while, and the detection of such material is a key figure to counter-acting measures in that respect. Especially regarding nuclear material, detecting gamma and neutron radiation simultaneously on-site with high efficiency provides a good chance of retrieving such material during transport after it was removed from nuclear facilities, either as a malicious act or simply by chance. The Fraunhofer INT's (Institute for Technological Trend Analysis) measurement car DeGeN (detection of gammas including neutrons) is equipped with highly sensitive 3 He neutron detectors and 12 l plastic detectors for gammas. After a reconfiguration of the measurement system, including new gamma detectors, the INT was given the opportunity of verifying the system's detection limits at the premises of WIS (Bundeswehr Research Institute for Protective Technologies and CBRN Protection) in Munster, Germany. Two different neutron sources were used for the experimental determination of the detection limits concerning neutrons.The results were then compared to theoretical detection limits which had been calculated previously. The results proved to be in good agreement overall.