Performance Evaluation of the Radiacode 103 Portable Radiation Detector

In recent years, there has been wider availability of radiation survey meters from direct sellers on the Internet, combined with a greater interest in surveying objects and areas for radioactive contamination. With this, we have seen a growth in radiation detector ownership among the general public. These survey meters are often limited to Geiger counters which lack the ability to identify isotopes.

The Cypriot company Radiacode has released a series of consumer-focused detectors based on CsI or GAGG scintillators coupled to a small silicon photomultiplier. Radiacode claims to have high energy resolutions for gamma spectroscopy, along with high sensitivity for dose rate measurements. The detector also links to a smartphone application to allow for data analysis in greater detail as well as location tagging of measurements.

This presentation will show the results of our characterization of the mid-range Radiacode 103 through a series of tests including the device sensitivity, accuracy across a range of different dose rates, and its ability to identify different common radioisotopes in comparison to more expensive devices that are aimed at professional use. We will also comment on the performance of the application on a range of smartphones to determine how useful the app-enabled features of the device are. Finally, we will provide a comprehensive evaluation of how suitable these devices are for use in a professional setting, especially considering its accessible price point.