Remote detection and identification of nuclear materials using multiple ion-chambers

A nuclear material detection and identification system, comprising:

• a plurality of ion chambers each configured to detect and measure positive and negative ions, wherein each ion chamber comprises a different gas and one or more ion counters;
• an isotope data library configured to store positive and negative ion production patterns of various isotopes for different gas environments;
• and
• an isotope identification module configured to receive a plurality of ion data from the plurality of ion chambers, wherein the plurality of ion data comprises distinctive pattern data of positive-ion production rates and negative-ion production rates generated from the measured positive and negative ions;
• and further configured to compare the pattern data of positive-ion production rates and negative-ion production rates to the isotope data library to identify a detected nuclear isotope, wherein the isotope identification module is implemented in a computer system that comprises instructions stored in a machine-readable medium and a processor that executes the instructions.