Nuclear event detector

A nuclear event detector for sensing the occurrence of a nuclear explosion causing the occurrence of a pulse of ionizing radiation having a pulse amplitude of at least about 5.times.10.sup.5 rad(Si)/s and providing a first output signal which is a pulse of a duration predetermined prior to said event and further comprising a second output signal indicating an event has occurred, said detector comprising:

• an ionizing radiation sensor for providing a sensor output signal upon an ionizing radiation pulse incident thereon exceeding a threshold level determined by the value of a first discrete eletrical component,
• a pulse timer circuit responsive to said sensor output signal for providing said first output signal;
• a latch circuit which is connected to said timer circuit and provides said second output signal when said timer circuit provides said first output signal and continues to provide said second output signal after the end of said first output signal;
• a sealed enclosure in which said sensor, said pulse timer circuit and said latch circuit are enclosed;
• and
• connection means extending from inside said enclosure to outside said enclosure and including first connector means adapted for connection to said first electrical component for setting said threshold level, said connection means further including second connector means adapted for connection to a second discrete electrical component for determining the duration of said first output signal.

A nuclear event detector system for providing a signal indicative of the occurrence of an ionizing radiation pulse occasioned by a nuclear explosion and having a Pulse amplitude of at least about 5.times.10.sup.5 rad(Si)/s, said system comprising:

• an ionizing radiation sensor sensor for providing a sensor output signal upon exposure to an ionizing radiation pulse incident thereon exceeding a predetermined threshold level;
• a pulse timer circuit responsive to said sensor output signal for providing a timing signal pulse of a predetermined duration;
• a sealed enclosure in which said sensor and said timing circuit are disposed;
• a first discrete electrical component which is external to said enclosure and which is interconnected with said sensor and has a preselected value for setting said threshold level;
• and
• a second discrete electrical component which is external to said enclosure and which is interconnected with said timer circuit and has a preselected value for setting the duration of said pulse.

A method of manufacturing a nuclear event detector for sensing the occurence of a pulse of ionizing radiation occasioned by a nuclear explosion and having a pulse amplitude of at least about 5.times.10.sup.5 rad(Si)/s, at a single manufacturing facility comprising:

• providing a hybrid microcircuit including an ionizing radiation sensor for providing a sensor output signal when an ionizing radiation pulse incident thereon exceeds a predetermined threshold level determined by the value of a first discrete electrical component, and further including a pulse timer circuit responsive to said sensor output for providing a timing signal pulse of a duration determined by the value of a second discrete electrical component;
• sealing said hybrid microcircuit in an enclosure with connector means extending from inside said enclosure to outside said enclosure for connecting said electrical components;
• connecting said first electrical component to said sensor and connecting said second electrical component to said timer circuit;
• and
• exposing said detector to ionizing radiation for pretesting and certifying said detector at the manufacturing facility.