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.
45 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