X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Diffraction – reflection – or scattering analysis
Patent
1990-11-30
1992-05-19
Church, Craig E.
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Diffraction, reflection, or scattering analysis
378 57, 378 3, 378 87, G01N 23201
Patent
active
051154595
ABSTRACT:
A technique for detecting explosives using resonance fluorescence of bremsstrahlung radiation is disclosed. The method is particularly attractive as a way to detect bombs at airports and other transportation terminals. According to the invention, bremsstrahlung radiation is made incident on a target (e.g., a piece of luggage) to resonantly excite the atoms of the target. In one embodiment, the energies of the photons scattered directly from the target are detected and measured. These energies are characteristic of the nuclear species excited in the target, and thus the concentrations of these elements in the target can be determined. A high concentration of nitrogen and oxygen with a low concentration of carbon indicates practically without fail an explosive material. In another embodiment, the energies of photons resonantly scattered from reference scatterers composed substantially of nuclear species of interest and located downstream from the target are detected and measured. The abundance of photons of energies corresponding to nuclear species of interest detected in this embodiment is inversely related to the abundance of the species in the target.
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Church Craig E.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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