Detection of neutrons and sources of radioactive material
First Claim
1. An inspection system for inspecting an object, the inspection system comprising:
- a. an external source of penetrating radiation for generating a beam and for irradiating the object, at least intermittently, the beam characterized at each instant of time by an instantaneous energy spectrum and an intensity that may be substantially zero;
b. at least one detector configured to detect penetrating radiation including, but not limited to, penetrating radiation backscattered by the object, and to generate a detector signal; and
c. a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to receive the detector signal, generate an x-ray image based at least on the detector signal, and generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered at least in part by an origin other than the penetrating radiation backscattered by the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Some embodiments of the invention are directed toward systems and methods of detecting clandestine nuclear material in the form of emitted radiation and particles (e.g., neutrons and alpha particles). These embodiments, which may be used in conjunction with a conventional x-ray imaging system, may include an external source of penetrating radiation, at least one detector configured to detect at least penetrating radiation and to generate a detector signal, and a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered by an origin other than backscattered penetrating radiation. Active and passive modes of detection are described by some embodiments. Other embodiments are directed toward neutron detection, gamma ray detection with energy resolution, and designs of detectors to enhance the detection of clandestine nuclear material.
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Citations
63 Claims
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1. An inspection system for inspecting an object, the inspection system comprising:
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a. an external source of penetrating radiation for generating a beam and for irradiating the object, at least intermittently, the beam characterized at each instant of time by an instantaneous energy spectrum and an intensity that may be substantially zero;
b. at least one detector configured to detect penetrating radiation including, but not limited to, penetrating radiation backscattered by the object, and to generate a detector signal; and
c. a processor configured as a detector signal discriminator to receive the detector signal, generate an x-ray image based at least on the detector signal, and generate an output indicating whether the detector signal is triggered at least in part by an origin other than the penetrating radiation backscattered by the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A directional detector of radioactive emissions comprising:
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a scintillator for capturing an emission from a radioactive source, the scintillator having a detection dimension with a total thickness greater than the mean free path of the emission in the scintillator; and
an optical detector configured to detect photons emitted from the scintillator in a direction of the detection dimension. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method for detecting neutrons, the method comprising:
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a. providing a scintillator containing high neutron-capture-cross-section atoms for capturing the neutrons and emitting electromagnetic radiation, at least one dimension of the scintillator exceeding the mean free path in the scintillator of a photon of a specified wavelength range; and
b. detecting photons at the specified wavelength range with a photodetector characterized by a position with respect to the scintillator. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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48. A method for detecting concealed fissile material comprising:
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a. providing;
i. a first scintillator screen for absorbing massive fission products and generating visible light;
ii. a second scintillator screen in a path of photons that have traversed the first scintillator screen;
iii. a heavy element backing in a path of photons that have traversed the second scintillator screen for generating Auger electrons and concomitant secondary photons; and
b. detecting visible photons arising in the first and second scintillators.
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49. A method for creating an x-ray image of an object and detecting clandestine nuclear material associated with the object, the method comprising:
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a. illuminating the object with penetrating radiation;
b. detecting emission, including penetrating radiation, emanating from the object;
c. producing an x-ray image of the object based on the detected emission; and
d. distinguishing between detected emission due to scattered penetrating radiation with the object and detected emission due to the clandestine nuclear material. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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61. A method for creating an x-ray image of an object and detecting clandestine nuclear material associated with the object, the method comprising:
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a. illuminating the object with penetrating radiation;
b. detecting emission, including penetrating radiation, emanating from the object;
c. producing an x-ray image of the object based on the detected emission; and
d. identifying heavy metal shielding of clandestine nuclear material associated with the object based on at least identifying a characteristic emission line of active x-ray fluorescence produced by an interaction between the heavy metal shielding and the penetrating radiation. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63)
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Specification