Advanced multi-resonant, multi-mode gamma beam detection and imaging system for explosives, special nuclear material (SNM), high-z materials, and other contraband
First Claim
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1. A multi-modal contraband detection system for detecting contraband materials in one or more target objects, said system comprising:
- a proton beam accelerator device for producing a high energy beam of protons at a specific energy;
a single proton beam target for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to impinging high energy beam of protons, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to a target object; and
,a plurality of detector means associated with the target object, said plurality of detector means being utilized simultaneously to provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said target object by utilizing a same proton beam, said multiple modes of detection comprising;
nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction with said target object on an incoming proton beam side of said target object;
nuclear resonance absorption and/or non-resonant absorption as detected by respective resonant and non-resonant gamma ray detectors; and
,photo-fission phenomena as detected by a gamma-insensitive neutron detector array to detect neutrons emitted in a photo-fission reaction with material included in said target object,wherein said system enables detection of contraband materials by detecting both nuclear resonance fluorescence and/or nuclear resonance absorption and photo-fission reaction in a single scan.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus combining Gamma Resonance Absorption, Gamma Resonance Fluorescence, Gamma Induced Photofission, Dual Beam Gamma Energy Absorptiometry modality in a single system for contraband detection/identification. Such contraband detection systems utilize novel proton beam target devices capable of generating single or multiple monoenergetic gamma ray beams used in detection/measurement of contraband, for simultaneous detection of multiple target objects in a single scan.
45 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A multi-modal contraband detection system for detecting contraband materials in one or more target objects, said system comprising:
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a proton beam accelerator device for producing a high energy beam of protons at a specific energy; a single proton beam target for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to impinging high energy beam of protons, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to a target object; and
,a plurality of detector means associated with the target object, said plurality of detector means being utilized simultaneously to provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said target object by utilizing a same proton beam, said multiple modes of detection comprising; nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction with said target object on an incoming proton beam side of said target object; nuclear resonance absorption and/or non-resonant absorption as detected by respective resonant and non-resonant gamma ray detectors; and
,photo-fission phenomena as detected by a gamma-insensitive neutron detector array to detect neutrons emitted in a photo-fission reaction with material included in said target object, wherein said system enables detection of contraband materials by detecting both nuclear resonance fluorescence and/or nuclear resonance absorption and photo-fission reaction in a single scan. - 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)
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24. A vehicle comprising a contraband detection system for providing stand-off detection of contraband materials in a target object, said contraband detection system comprising:
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a proton beam accelerator device for producing a high energy beam of protons at a specific energy; a single proton beam target for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to impinging high energy beam of protons, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to a target object; and
,a plurality of detector means associated with the target object, wherein said plurality of detector means provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said target object, at least one mode comprising; nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction with said target object on an incoming proton beam side of said target object.
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25. A multi-modal contraband detection system adapted to detect contraband material in containers traveling on a conveyor, said multi-modal contraband detection system comprising:
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a proton beam accelerator device for producing a high energy beam of protons at a specific energy; a single proton beam target for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to impinging high energy beam of protons, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to a container; and
,a plurality of detector means providing multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in said container;
said plurality of detector means being utilized simultaneously to provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said target object by utilizing a same proton beam, said multiple modes of detection comprising;nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction with said target object on an incoming proton beam side of said target object; nuclear resonance absorption anchor non-resonant absorption as detected by respective resonant and non-resonant gamma ray detectors; and
,photo-fission phenomena as detected by a gamma-insensitive neutron detector array to detect neutrons emitted in a photo-fission reaction with material included in said target object, wherein said system enables detection of contraband materials by detecting both nuclear resonance fluorescence and/or nuclear resonance absorption and photo-fission reaction in a single scan.
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26. A multi-modal contraband detection system for detecting contraband materials in one or more target objects, said system comprising:
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a plurality of proton beam accelerator devices each for producing a high energy beam of protons at specific energies; a plurality of proton beam targets each for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to an impinging high energy beam of protons from a respective accelerator, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to one or more target objects; and
,a plurality of detector means associated with the one or more target objects, wherein said plurality of detector means being utilized simultaneously to provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said one or more target object, said multiple modes of detection comprising; nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction with said target object on an incoming proton beam side of each said one or more target objects; nuclear resonance absorption and/or non-resonant absorption as detected by respective resonant and non-resonant gamma ray detectors; and
,photo-fission phenomena as detected by a gamma-insensitive neutron detector array to detect neutrons emitted in a photo-fission reaction with material included in said one or more target objects, wherein said system enables detection of contraband materials by detecting both nuclear resonance fluorescence and/or nuclear resonance absorption and photo-fission reaction in a single scan.
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27. A method of detecting contraband materials in one or more target objects, said method comprising:
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a) providing a proton beam accelerator device for producing a high energy beam of protons at a specific energy; b) providing a single proton beam target for generating one or more gamma ray beams in response to impinging high energy beam of protons, said generated one or more gamma ray beams being simultaneously directed to a target object; and
,c) providing multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said target object by implementing a plurality of detector means;
said plurality of detector means being utilized simultaneously to provide multiple modes of detecting presence of contraband materials in each said one or more target objects by utilizing a same proton beam, said multiple modes of detection comprising;nuclear resonance fluorescence as detected by a nuclear resonance fluorescence detector array to detect fluorescing reaction wit said target object on an incoming proton beam side of said one or more target objects; nuclear resonance absorption and/or non-resonant absorption as detected by respective resonant and non-resonant gamma ray detectors; and
,photo-fission phenomena as detected by a gamma-insensitive neutron detector array to detect neutrons emitted in a photo-fission reaction wit material included in said one or more target objects, wherein said method detects contraband materials by detecting both nuclear resonance fluorescence and/or nuclear resonance absorption and photo-fission reaction in a single scan.
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Specification