Method and apparatus for the safe and rapid detection of nuclear devices within containers
First Claim
1. A method for detecting high-Z nuclear materials or high-Z nuclear material containers inside a cargo container in a safe, reliable and rapid manner to permit scanning large numbers of containers, comprising the steps of:
- generating a pulsed high-density beam of gamma rays having a duration of a picosecond or shorter and capable of penetrating a container having first and second opposed sides;
directing the beam at the first side of the container; and
,detecting the beam at the second side of the container, whereby high-Z material inside the container absorbs the beam of gamma rays so that a diminution of detected gamma rays at the second opposed side indicates the presence of high-Z material and thus a potential nuclear material threat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A safe, reliable and rapid system for the detection of nuclear materials within containers includes the use of pulsed high-intensity gamma rays that can penetrate a container and its contents and can be detected outside the container to provide a display in which high-Z material, including lead, uranium, plutonium and other nuclear substances that absorb gamma rays are detected as black regions on the display. In one embodiment, orthogonal pulsed gamma ray beams illuminate the container from two different directions to provide three-dimensional slices from which the existence and location of nuclear threat materials can be ascertained in as little as four seconds for a 40-foot container.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for detecting high-Z nuclear materials or high-Z nuclear material containers inside a cargo container in a safe, reliable and rapid manner to permit scanning large numbers of containers, comprising the steps of:
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generating a pulsed high-density beam of gamma rays having a duration of a picosecond or shorter and capable of penetrating a container having first and second opposed sides; directing the beam at the first side of the container; and
,detecting the beam at the second side of the container, whereby high-Z material inside the container absorbs the beam of gamma rays so that a diminution of detected gamma rays at the second opposed side indicates the presence of high-Z material and thus a potential nuclear material threat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for rapidly and safely detecting the presence of nuclear threat material in cargo offloaded at a port in containers, comprising the steps of:
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irradiating a container with non-continuous pulsed gamma rays, the pulses of the gamma rays having pulse lengths in the picosecond or smaller region, whereby gamma ray intensities are high and safety hazards are low; and
,detecting the presence of the nuclear threat material from the irradiation that exits the container, whereby the use of pulsed gamma rays increases the intensity of the gamma rays to permit robust detection while not presenting a safety hazard. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for rapidly detecting nuclear threat materials in a container, comprising:
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a portal; a pulsed source of gamma rays located at the portal, the gamma ray pulses having a duration of a picosecond or less; an array of detectors for detecting gamma rays at a position at the portal opposite the position of said source; and
,a display coupled to said detectors for displaying the existence and location of said nuclear threat material in said container, whereby when said container is moved through said portal, said nuclear threat material is rapidly detected. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification