Induced nuclear reactions: processes – systems – and elements – Nuclear transmutation – By neutron bombardment
Patent
1990-01-10
1992-01-07
Walsh, Donald P.
Induced nuclear reactions: processes, systems, and elements
Nuclear transmutation
By neutron bombardment
376158, 376161, 364 22, 364933, G21G 106
Patent
active
050789520
ABSTRACT:
A nuclear detection system and method efficiently detects explosives in checked airline baggage or other parcels with a high probability of detection (PD) and a low probability of false alarms (PFA). The detection system detects the presence of nitrogen and its rough density distribution within the object under investigation by performing a nuclear-based analysis of the object. The detection system includes a source of thermal neutrons; an array of gamma ray detectors; a neutron detector; means for irradiating the object being examined to neutrons from the neutron source, which neutrons interact with the atomic nuclei of one or more specific elements, e.g., nitrogen, chlorine, or hydrogen present within the object so as to cause elemental-specific gamma rays to be emitted; means for capturing and counting the elemental-specific gamma rays and determining their approximate origin within the object, thereby providing a rough measure of the density distribution of these specific elements within the object; and means for detecting neutrons that pass through the object without substantially interacting with atomic nuclei, thereby providing an image of the atomic density distribution of the object similar to conventional neutron radiography. One embodiment of the invention includes an artificial neural system (ANS) of analyzing the recorded gamma rays and efficiently discriminating between objects carrying explosives and objects not carrying explosives. Another embodiment utilizes a spectral correlation method (SCM) to remove undesirable background noise from the spectrum of detected gamma rays. Still another embodiment uses a X-ray system to generate an electron density image of the object being investigated, which electron density image helps confirm the presence of explosives within the object.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3808444 (1974-04-01), Schneeberger et al.
patent: 4851687 (1989-07-01), Ettinger et al.
patent: 4882121 (1989-11-01), Grenier
Detection of Explosives in Checked Airline Baggage Using an Artificial Neural System, by Patrick M. Shea et al. IJCNN Jun. 1989, pp. 11-31-11-34.
Gozani et al., "Nuclear-Based Techniques", Journal of Energetic Materials, vol. 4:377-414, (1986).
Gozani Tsahi
Sawa Z. Peter
Shea Patrick M.
Chelliah Meena
Science Applications International Corporation
Walsh Donald P.
LandOfFree
Multi-sensor explosive detection system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Multi-sensor explosive detection system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multi-sensor explosive detection system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-820288