Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC) is a leading manufacturer of precision electronic instrumentation for test and measurement, radiation detection, nuclear research, and RF/microwave. From signal generators to spectrum analyzers, we offer the widest range of signal generation and analysis tools from a single manufacturer. Our application engineers are always available to discuss your specific needs. BNC happily offers product demonstrations if you’re interested in testing out a unit on site to make sure that it is right for you.

Our corporate headquarters are in San Rafael, California, with additional manufacturing facilities and sales offices located throughout the United States.

We maintain an international network of manufacturer’s representatives—including Optilas, Canberra Packard, ORTEC, Coherent, and Seiko—to provide for precision instrumentation needs globally.

Founded in 1963

BNC initially developed custom pulse generators. We became known for meeting the most stringent requirements for high precision and stability, and for producing instruments of unsurpassed reliability and performance. We continue to hold a leadership position as a developer of custom pulse, signal, light, and function generators. Our designs incorporate the latest innovations in software and hardware engineering, surface mount production, and automated testing procedures. The Model 625A, our first ARB/Function Generator received several electronics industry awards, including the Cahners Electronics Group’s ”T&M Product of the Year” award. Today our Arbitrary Waveform Generators offer industry leading modulation bandwidth and memory depth.

BNC’s Innovative Engineering

BNC’s innovative engineering has resulted in a highly regarded line of digital delay generators (DDGs). To date, we have introduced 15 different DDGs with delay resolution as low as 250 femtoseconds. Annual media surveys consistently rank us in the top echelon of producers of DDGs. Other noteworthy product lines include our Light Pulse Generators and our RF Signal Generators. Our R&D is highly focused on compact solutions without compromising performance.

The Nuclear Products Group

In the mid-1990s, BNC created the Nuclear Products Group to develop radiation detection and analysis instrumentation. In 1997, we introduced the SAM 935 Surveillance and Measurement system, the first real-time analysis tool for identification and quantification of multiple radionuclides. Our nuclear spectroscopy products now serve a broad cross-section of industries involved in environmental monitoring, health physics, emergency response, and power generation. We offer an accredited program of training seminars in radiation detection, surveillance, and measurement at locations across the U.S. and online, providing attendees with a comprehensive understanding of principles and techniques for isotope identification and analysis. We were proud to co-sponsor a training seminar on radiological detection for emergency response and anti-terrorism with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in fall 2002. As of 2020, Berkeley Nucleonics has been on site at over 165 private, state and federal locations to perform user training.

Just last year, Berkeley Nucleonics participated in several major radiological response trainings. The Bay Guardian, a cross-departmental event in northern California and The Continuing Challenge, a workshop overseen by various HAZMAT officials from the western US. Learn more here: participation in 2018.

Furthermore, we are a faithful contributor to groups such as the California Boating Safety Officers Association (CBSOA), by providing demo equipment for training, and also instructing on the units themselves when needed. We have similar interactions on a regular basis with CAL OES (Office of Emergency Services), several DOE National Labs (LLNL, LANL, Argonne National Lab, as examples), and law enforcement agencies. Customers will appreciate the personal touch our engineer and spectroscopists provide in all our training and demo events.

2008 Budget Constraints

When the technical community faced budget constraints in 2008, BNC responded with a line of low cost test equipment for general research applications. Our sub-$2000 product line offers features needed by the bench test engineer without the costly components found in higher priced products. This line includes a power supply, oscilloscope, arbitrary waveform generator, universal frequency counter and two spectrum analyzers. New products in recent years include portable and touchscreen oscilliscopes and a budget Digital Delay Generator with a virtual front panel.

Meeting the Requirements of the Most Demanding Radiation Counting Applications.

BNC offers a full range of standard, specialized, and custom-built scintillation detectors designed to meet the requirements of the most demanding radiation counting applications. For almost 20 years, we have been working on-site with customers