Methods and systems for non-invasive measurement of soil chlorine and/or nitrogen content and for detecting sub-surface chlorine or nitrogen-containing objects
First Claim
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1. A detection system for determining the presence of chlorine on, or below, a testable surface, comprising:
- a neutron generator assembly, for generating pulsed neutron beams;
a moderator, positioned between the neutron generator assembly and the testable surface;
a gamma ray detector, positioned to detect a gamma ray response from materials on or below the testable surface when the neutron beams impinge the materials; and
a gamma ray detector processor/controller comprising a split electronics processing system that separates gamma spectra acquired during a neutron pulse from the gamma spectra acquired between neutron pulses, the gamma ray detector processor/controller being in communication with the gamma ray detector and the neutron generator assembly, the gamma ray detector processor/controller is being structured to collect thermal neutron capture (TNC) gamma spectra data between neutron beam pulses;
wherein, the gamma ray detector processor/controller is structured so that the presence of chlorine is indicated when the TNC gamma ray spectra data indicates a count rate peak with a centroid at about 1164 keV.
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Abstract
The presence of chlorine and nitrogen are determined and measured using a non-invasive portable neutron-generating and gamma ray detecting system(s). Portable devices of the present invention can also be used to detect chlorine and/or nitrogen-containing underground objects rapidly and on-site. Devices and systems described herein can be operated remotely and pre-programmed with search patterns, guided by an operator remotely, or programmed to home in on high-chlorine and/or nitrogen concentration areas.
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19 Claims
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1. A detection system for determining the presence of chlorine on, or below, a testable surface, comprising:
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a neutron generator assembly, for generating pulsed neutron beams; a moderator, positioned between the neutron generator assembly and the testable surface; a gamma ray detector, positioned to detect a gamma ray response from materials on or below the testable surface when the neutron beams impinge the materials; and a gamma ray detector processor/controller comprising a split electronics processing system that separates gamma spectra acquired during a neutron pulse from the gamma spectra acquired between neutron pulses, the gamma ray detector processor/controller being in communication with the gamma ray detector and the neutron generator assembly, the gamma ray detector processor/controller is being structured to collect thermal neutron capture (TNC) gamma spectra data between neutron beam pulses; wherein, the gamma ray detector processor/controller is structured so that the presence of chlorine is indicated when the TNC gamma ray spectra data indicates a count rate peak with a centroid at about 1164 keV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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