NORTHVALE, NJ, January 7, 2015 – Inrad Optics has been selected as a finalist for the 2015 Prism Awards for Photonics Innovation, a leading international competition that honors the best new photonic products on the market. Sometimes referred to as the “Oscars of Photonics”, the Prism Awards have received entries from more than 35 countries that represent the best in photonics technology. The awards are a collaboration between SPIE (the International Society for Optics and Photonics) and Photonics Media.
Inrad Optics has been selected as a finalist in the category of materials and coatings for its development of stilbene crystals. Stilbene is a scintillator, and emits light in the presence of nuclear radiation. It has long been recognized as having excellent properties for neutron detection and is well-suited for discrimination between fast neutrons and a gamma-ray background. Fast neutron counting, spectroscopy, and imaging have applications in medicine, industry, research, defense, and homeland security. The primary advantages of stilbene are its high sensitivity to neutrons and excellent discrimination between neutrons and gamma-ray radiation.
The technology originated at Lawrence Livermore National Labs and is being further developed by Inrad Optics for neutron detection applications. Early phases of the commercialization have been supported by the US Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office.
This nomination comes in addition to multiple awards including the Tibbetts Award from the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA) and recognition by the Department of Homeland Security’s Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) for exceptional contributions to advanced materials development for neutron detection of radiological and nuclear material.
Amy Eskilson, the CEO of Inrad Optics said, “We are extremely honored to be selected as a finalist for the 2015 PRISM awards. This recognition underscores our continued commitment to development of novel photonic materials.
The winners will be announced in February 2015 at a gala event held during SPIE Photonics West in San Francisco, California. For more information see http://www.photonicsprismaward.com/finalists.aspx.
This work has been supported by the US Department of Homeland Security, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, under competitively awarded contract HSHQDC-14-C-00067. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the Government.
About Inrad Optics
Inrad Optics is a manufacturer of exceptional quality crystalline materials and devices, fabricated high precision glass, and metal optical components. Originally founded as Interactive Radiation in 1973, Inrad Optics is a globally recognized brand of optical solutions. Vertically integrated, manufacturing expertise includes solution and high temperature crystal growth, extensive optical fabrication capabilities, including precision diamond turning and the handling of large substrates, optical coatings and extensive in-process metrology.
