Method and apparatus for performing active neutron interrogation of containters
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for inspecting the contents of a cargo container, comprising:
- a neutron source comprising;
an ion source configured to provide deuterium or tritium ions;
an accelerator operatively coupled to the ion source to define an accelerator/ion source region, the accelerator operating at a first gas pressure and configured to receive the deuterium or tritium ions and accelerate the deuterium or tritium ions;
a gaseous target system operatively coupled to the accelerator, the gaseous target system comprising a target chamber operating at a second gas pressure, higher than the first gas pressure, the target chamber holding a target gas comprising at least one of deuterium or tritium; and
a plurality of differential pumping stages, each stage configured to reduce a pressure in the neutron source by a factor of between 10 and 1000 to maintain a first pressure differential between an outside atmosphere and the ion source/accelerator region, a second pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the gaseous target system, and a third pressure differential between the ion source/accelerator region and the gaseous target system; and
a radiation detector;
wherein the neutron source is configured to deliver a neutron flux into the container and the radiation detector is configured to detect radiation exiting the container subsequent to the delivery of the neutron flux into the container.
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Abstract
An apparatus for inspecting the contents of a cargo container includes a neutron source having an ion source configured to provide deuterium or tritium ions and an accelerator configured to accelerate the ions toward a target having at least one of deuterium or tritium. The apparatus further includes a radiation detector where the neutron source is configured to deliver a neutron flux into the container and the radiation detector is configured to detect radiation exiting the container subsequent to the delivery of the neutron flux into the container.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for inspecting the contents of a cargo container, comprising:
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a neutron source comprising; an ion source configured to provide deuterium or tritium ions; an accelerator operatively coupled to the ion source to define an accelerator/ion source region, the accelerator operating at a first gas pressure and configured to receive the deuterium or tritium ions and accelerate the deuterium or tritium ions; a gaseous target system operatively coupled to the accelerator, the gaseous target system comprising a target chamber operating at a second gas pressure, higher than the first gas pressure, the target chamber holding a target gas comprising at least one of deuterium or tritium; and a plurality of differential pumping stages, each stage configured to reduce a pressure in the neutron source by a factor of between 10 and 1000 to maintain a first pressure differential between an outside atmosphere and the ion source/accelerator region, a second pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the gaseous target system, and a third pressure differential between the ion source/accelerator region and the gaseous target system; and a radiation detector; wherein the neutron source is configured to deliver a neutron flux into the container and the radiation detector is configured to detect radiation exiting the container subsequent to the delivery of the neutron flux into the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of identifying material in a cargo container, comprising:
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generating a neutron flux with a neutron source apparatus comprising; an ion source for producing an ion beams; an accelerator operatively coupled to the ion source to define an accelerator/ion source region, the accelerator operating at a first gas pressure and configured to receive the ion beam and accelerate the ion beam to yield an accelerated ion beam; a gaseous target system operatively coupled to the accelerator, the gaseous target system comprising a target chamber operating at a second gas pressure, higher than the first gas pressure, the target chamber containing a target gas which is reactive with the accelerated beam to emit the neutron flux, wherein the target gas comprises at least one of deuterium or tritium; and a plurality of differential pumping stages, each stage configured to reduce a pressure in the neutron source by a factor of between 10 and 1000 to maintain a first pressure differential between an outside atmosphere and the ion source/accelerator region, a second pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the gaseous target system, and a third pressure differential between the ion source/accelerator region and the gaseous target system; irradiating the cargo container with the neutron flux, wherein a radiation signature is produced by the material after the neutron flux contacts the material; detecting the radiation signature; and evaluating the radiation signature to identify the material. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for inspecting the contents of a cargo container, comprising:
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a neutron source comprising; an ion source configured to provide deuterium or tritium ions; an accelerator operatively coupled to the ion source to define an accelerator/ion source region, the accelerator operating at a first gas pressure and configured to receive the deuterium or tritium ions and accelerate the deuterium or tritium ions; a gaseous target system operatively coupled to the accelerator, the gaseous target system comprising a target chamber operating at a second gas pressure, higher than the first gas pressure, the target chamber holding a target gas comprising at least one of deuterium or tritium; and a plurality of differential pumping stages, each stage configured to reduce a pressure in the neutron source by a factor of between 10 and 1000 to maintain a first pressure differential between an outside atmosphere and the ion source/accelerator region, a second pressure differential between the outside atmosphere and the gaseous target system, and a third pressure differential between the ion source/accelerator region and the gaseous target system; and a radiation detector; wherein the neutron source is configured to deliver a neutron flux into the container and the radiation detector is configured to detect radiation exiting the container subsequent to the delivery of the neutron flux into the container; and wherein the neutron source and radiation detector are coupled to a crane configured to unload cargo containers from a ship. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification