Method and apparatus for the identification of lithospheric or shielded material deposits by doppler-shifted response photon spectra from interrogation by ionizing radiation
First Claim
1. A method for the remote detection and characterization of materials at a sample material emplacement with ionizing radiation, that requires thermally-induced Doppler broadening of nuclear reaction cross sections, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a unidirectional interrogation beam composed of ionizing radiation at a platform used as a stage for a detection and characterization operation;
(b) directing an interrogation beam composed of ionizing radiation to irradiate a remote sample material emplacement or a portion thereof;
(c) generating a secondary ionizing photon radiation by spontaneous, particle capture, inelastic particle scattering, and particle activation reactions of the interrogation beam with the material at the emplacement location;
(d) detecting secondary photon radiations emitted from the sample material emplacement in interaction events in detector materials disposed at a remote location adjacent to the location where the interrogation beam originates;
(e) converting interaction events by secondary photons, including those emitted from the sample material emplacement location, with the detector materials to detector response electronic signals;
(f) processing the detector response electronic signals remotely to generate spectral information by cataloging the actuarial detection frequency or cumulative event count in specific incident photon energy intervals;
(g) changing the temperature of the sample material emplacement remotely in a controlled fashion to induce Doppler broadening of nuclear reaction cross sections by use of an apparatus disposed for the purpose of creating said temperature change;
(h) and, assessing remotely the changes produced by sample material emplacement temperature perturbations to the spectral information generated from the detector response electronic signals to calculate or infer the mass inventory and composition of material at the sample emplacement.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for the remote, non-invasive detection or characterization of materials manifests a controlled temperature perturbation to the sample material location concurrently with sample interrogation by ionizing radiation and with detection of the response emission energy spectra. This configuration induces and detects Doppler effects manifested at the sample location, allowing material inventory and composition measurements, and allowing a comparative reduction of the exposure duration compared to other isothermal proportional count, coincidence count or spectral analysis techniques. The method and apparatus apply primarily to the detection of elements and isotopes in baggage handling, cargo inspection, chemical characterization, process control and geologic operations, though the method and apparatus are not restricted to these applications. Though the magnitudes of the measured effects are substance specific, the contributing physical processes are not strictly material dependent, allowing method and apparatus applications to almost any high-energy photon-emitting material in multiple applications.
18 Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for the remote detection and characterization of materials at a sample material emplacement with ionizing radiation, that requires thermally-induced Doppler broadening of nuclear reaction cross sections, comprising the steps of:
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(a) generating a unidirectional interrogation beam composed of ionizing radiation at a platform used as a stage for a detection and characterization operation; (b) directing an interrogation beam composed of ionizing radiation to irradiate a remote sample material emplacement or a portion thereof; (c) generating a secondary ionizing photon radiation by spontaneous, particle capture, inelastic particle scattering, and particle activation reactions of the interrogation beam with the material at the emplacement location; (d) detecting secondary photon radiations emitted from the sample material emplacement in interaction events in detector materials disposed at a remote location adjacent to the location where the interrogation beam originates; (e) converting interaction events by secondary photons, including those emitted from the sample material emplacement location, with the detector materials to detector response electronic signals; (f) processing the detector response electronic signals remotely to generate spectral information by cataloging the actuarial detection frequency or cumulative event count in specific incident photon energy intervals; (g) changing the temperature of the sample material emplacement remotely in a controlled fashion to induce Doppler broadening of nuclear reaction cross sections by use of an apparatus disposed for the purpose of creating said temperature change; (h) and, assessing remotely the changes produced by sample material emplacement temperature perturbations to the spectral information generated from the detector response electronic signals to calculate or infer the mass inventory and composition of material at the sample emplacement. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for the remote detection and characterization of materials at a sample material emplacement with ionizing radiation, that manifests thermally-induced Doppler broadening of nuclear reaction cross sections, with said apparatus comprising:
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(a) an ionizing radiation source having a beam controller and collimator that collectively operate to provide a unidirectional interrogation beam of selected energy that can be operated in pulsed or continuous modes; (b) a transportable platform that bears the ionizing radiation source and beam controller, and allows directional adjustment of the emitted interrogation beam to aim said beam towards the sample material emplacement; (c) a measurement detector array disposed on the platform to intercept photons generated at the sample emplacement location; (d) a diagnostic detection system composed of multiple neutron detectors disposed on the platform to gauge interrogation source operation and radiation status; (e) a signal processor and analyzer system that communicates with the measurement and diagnostic detectors to receive the detector output signals, process said signals to generate both system status, and spectral information by cataloging the actuarial detection frequency or cumulative event count in specific incident photon and neutron energy intervals, and to compare and manipulate said spectra in manners specified by the user for the purpose of system-keeping, sample material inventory and composition measurement; (f) a thermal perturbation system, at least partially comprising an interrogation beam composed of ionizing radiation generated by the ionizing radiation source, that induces material temperature changes at the sample emplacement in a controlled and measured fashion; (g) a thermal management system disposed on the platform for the purpose of stabilizing temperatures of detectors and other sensitive components; (h) a transmitter/receiver system disposed on the platform and capable of operational command and data transfer communications; (i) power cabling for the provision of externally supplied electrical power to electrically energized components disposed on the platform; (j) a central controller system disposed on the platform that regulates, starts, stops and implements operational setpoints for the interrogation beam, diagnostic detector system, measurement detector system, thermal perturbation system, thermal management system and transmitter/receiver system; (k) radiation shielding disposed on the platform to screen radiation-sensitive components; (l) and, cabling for electrical connectivity among components disposed on the platform. - View Dependent Claims (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, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification