Sandia National Laboratories announced that Blueshift Optics, founded by former Sandia employee Joey Carlson, is revolutionizing the detection of radioactive materials with technology created at Sandia National Laboratories. The cutting-edge technology, named Organic Glass Scintillators, was developed through collaboration between Sandia materials scientist Patrick Feng and Carlson, according to a press release by Sandia National Laboratories.
Blueshift Optics provides an innovative organic scintillator designed for superior neutron detection and effective gamma discrimination in various radiation detection applications. With options in both high-purity and plastic formulations, their additive manufacturing method enables the production of standard and challenging form factors. For specific performance specifications, one can request more information, said Blueshift Optics.
“We developed a material that behaves like window glass; we call it organic glass,” said Fren, according to a press release by Sandia National Laboratories. “When a quartz crystal is melted and supercooled, it behaves differently. It transmits light equally in all directions and is more resistant to cracking.”
The team envisions diverse applications including use by fusion energy companies for advanced experiments. They see the most significant potential in enhancing national security. Swift deployment of this technology at U.S. ports and border crossings is anticipated along with its possible use by the U.S. armed forces. Notably, Blueshift Optics was established in 2020 through the Entrepreneurial Separation to Transfer Technology program.
“It has the potential to provide us with better data from nuclear physics experiments, enhance national security applications both at home and abroad and has applications in fusion energy,” said Carlson.