Maps applications to materials and detector configurations, ordered by global market volume (largest first). Chapter cross-references are consolidated in the matrix at B.10.
Portal and handheld detection/ID of radioactive material outside regulatory control (port screening, search, emergency response). NaI(Tl) covers cost-sensitive primary screening; CeBr3/LaBr3:Ce add spectroscopic resolution; CLLBC and 6LiF/ZnS(Ag) add neutron sensitivity. Must meet ANSI N42 drop/immersion and -40 to +60 C outdoor ratings.
PET, SPECT, gamma-camera, and CT imaging. LYSO:Ce/LSO:Ce for clinical PET (sub-200 ps TOF, SiPM readout); NaI(Tl) for SPECT and gamma cameras; GAGG:Ce for high-resolution PET and CT detector arrays (with CdWO4). Dose efficiency to the patient is the binding constraint.
Downhole gamma-ray and neutron-gamma logging for lithology, porosity, and fluid content. CsI(Na) is standard (100-200 C, 20,000 psi, 1.75 in. tool diameter); LaBr3:Ce/CeBr3 resolve overlapping gamma lines at depth; BGO suits compact high-stopping-power needs.
Continuous gamma monitoring of air, water, and soil at facilities and remediation sites. NaI(Tl) is standard (low-background variants available); CsI(Tl) for compact SiPM stations; CeBr3 where spectroscopic ID is required. Needs multi-year unattended stability and outdoor rating (-40 to +60 C).
Spacecraft gamma-ray astronomy, planetary composition, and radiation-environment monitoring. CsI(Tl) is standard (SiPM-compatible, vacuum-rugged, -150 to +150 C, multi-Gray tolerant); LaBr3:Ce/CeBr3 for high-resolution astronomy; plastic for active charged-particle detection. Mars Curiosity's RAD uses CsI(Tl); neutron measurement on the same rover is a separate He-3 instrument (DAN).
CBRN reconnaissance, stockpile stewardship, and forward-deployed microreactor monitoring. Same materials as homeland security, with MIL-STD-810 ruggedization and secure communications; CLLBC/CLYC for forward gamma-neutron detection.
Thickness, density, and level gauging; weld radiography; tracer-flow studies. NaI(Tl)/CsI(Tl) for general gauging; BGO/CdWO4 for compact, high-density, low-afterglow radiography. Source-detector pairs or backscatter geometry.
Collider calorimetry, neutrino detection, and dark-matter search. PbWO4 is radiation-hard for collider calorimetry (CMS: 76,000 crystals); high-purity NaI(Tl) (DAMA, ANAIS, COSINE-100) and cryogenic CaWO4 (CRESST) for dark matter; liquid scintillator at kiloton scale for neutrinos (KamLAND, JUNO).
Pre-administration radiopharmaceutical QA and hot-lab contamination monitoring (patient not in the system). NaI(Tl) well counters for dose calibrators (near 4-pi efficiency, 1-5% accuracy); CsI(Tl)/GAGG:Ce for bench-top systems; CeBr3 for purity verification.
| Application | Primary materials | Key configurations | Chapter refs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeland security primary | Plastic, NaI(Tl), 6LiF/ZnS(Ag) | Pedestrian/vehicle portals | 3, 4, 12.9 |
| Homeland security handheld | CeBr3, NaI(Tl), CLLBC | S-style with SiPM | 8.3.1, 12.8 |
| PET imaging | LYSO:Ce, GAGG:Ce | LYSO pixel arrays, dSiPM | 3.3.3, 8.3.3, 12.6 |
| SPECT imaging | NaI(Tl) | Large NaI plate, PMT array | 3.3.1, 12.6 |
| CT scanner detector | CdWO4, GAGG:Ce | Photodiode-coupled arrays | 3.3.3, 9.2 |
| Down-hole well logging | CsI(Na), LaBr3:Ce | High-temp B-style | 7.5, 8.3.2 |
| Environmental monitoring | NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl) | Outdoor low-background | 11.8, 7.4 |
| Stack effluent | CsI(Tl), CLLBC | Inline flow cell | 14.2 |
| Space gamma spectrometer | CsI(Tl), CeBr3 | S-style vacuum-rated | 5.4, 11.9 |
| Spacecraft charged particle | Plastic | Active anti-coincidence | 12.7 |
| MIL-spec backpack | NaI(Tl), CLLBC | Ruggedized B/S-style | 11.9, B.6 |
| Industrial thickness gauge | NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl) | Source-detector pair | 11.9 |
| Industrial radiography | BGO, CdWO4 | Backscatter or transmission | 3.3.3 |
| HEP calorimetry | PbWO4, BGO, LYSO | Pixel calorimeter modules | 3.3.3, 5.4 |
| Dark matter | NaI(Tl) high-purity, CaWO4 | Cryogenic low-background | 5, 8.4, 11.8 |
| Neutrino detection | Liquid scintillator | Multi-PMT large vessel | 3.5 |
| Dose calibrator | NaI(Tl) well counter | NaI well + PMT in pig | 11, 12.7, B.9 |
| HALEU verification | LaBr3:Ce, CeBr3, SrI2(Eu) | Spec'd for 185.7 keV | 14.3 |
| SMR containment | NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl) | Wall-mount area monitor | 14.2 |
| MSR off-gas | CLLBC, CLYC | High-temp inline cell | 14.4 |
| Fusion D-T diagnostics | Liquid (BC-501A), stilbene | TOF spectrometer | 14.5 |
| Fission surface power | CsI(Tl) | Compact integrated S-style | 14.6 |
| Decommissioning floor | Plastic, NaI(Tl) | Large-area paddle | 14.8 |
| Decommissioning waste scan | NaI(Tl), CsI(Tl) | Drum scanner | 14.8 |
| Datacenter SMR portal | NaI(Tl), plastic | Vehicle/pedestrian portal | 14.7 |
Three categories are expanding fast: SMR/microreactor monitoring and AI-datacenter co-located nuclear power (both Ch. 14, bringing new procurement profiles into the market), and distributed environmental monitoring networks (post-Fukushima and post-2022 supply-chain driven).