Method and apparatus for X-ray laser interrogation

• US 9,440,289 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2012
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Spariosu, Kalin, Wurzbach, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnston, Phillip A
• Application Number:
  US13/650,368
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 378/70
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B22F 9/00 Making metallic powder or suspensions thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 23/203 Measuring back scattering
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 5/222 measuring scattered radiation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a stand-off interrogation system having an ultra-fast X-ray source (incoherent and/or X-ray laser) with an ultra-short pulse emission to irradiate a target material behind a barrier. In one embodiment, the target material is an explosive material in a container. The composition of the target material is directly determined from the detected elemental differential back-scattering signatures.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an X-ray source for illuminating a target, the X-ray source comprising a plurality of transmitters each producing a different photon energy or mean photon energy, wherein photon energies from the X-ray source are between 1 keV (kilo-electron Volts) and 100 keV;

a detector to detect one or more of photons, emitted from the target as a result of the target illumination by the X-ray source, wherein the photons are emitted from the material due to Compton scattering and/or coherent (Thomson) scattering; and

a signal processor coupled to the detector to analyze the detected scattered photons and to perform range gating on the analyzed scattered photons for determining a three dimensional chemical compositional profile of the target.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to identify the material as comprising an explosive material.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein photon pulses from the transmitter X-ray source have pulse durations less than 10 picoseconds.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the ultra-fast X-ray source comprises an ultra-fast laser triggered x-ray tube and/or an X-ray laser to generate highly directional low divergence beams.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the target is located behind a barrier.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the target is within a container.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the photons are emitted from the material due to reflection, refraction, diffraction, Compton scattering, coherent scattering, and/or fluorescence.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the X-ray source comprises an incoherent and/or X-ray laser.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the photons from the X-ray source are transmitted through the material.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is fixed on or immediately adjacent to the X-ray source to provide a monostatic LADAR configuration.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is fixed at a location that is remote from the X-ray source to provide a bistatic/multistatic LADAR configuration.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is movable.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to perform range gating on the detector output for isolating signal return from the target and/or enabling three dimensional mapping/imaging of the target.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein a beam from the X-ray source is directed at a specific location on the target for spot interrogation at a standoff distance.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein a beam from the X-ray source is scanned to interrogate a target area.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the X-ray source is an ultra-fast X-ray source having an ultra-short pulse emission and a substantially non-divergent, diffraction limited, highly directional beam.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the target has dimensions such that it can be worn by a person.

16. A method, comprising:

directing an X-ray source to illuminate a target, the X-ray source comprising a plurality of transmitters each producing a different photon energy or mean photon energy, wherein photon energies from the X-ray source are between 1 keV (kilo-electron Volts) and 100 keV;

detecting one or more of photons emitted from the target as a result of illumination of the target by the X-ray source, wherein the photons are emitted from the material due to Compton scattering and/or coherent (Thomson) scattering;

analyzing the detected scattered photons; and

performing range gating on the analyzed scattered photons to determine a three dimensional chemical compositional profile of the target.

17. The method according to claim 16, further including identifying the material as comprising an explosive material.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the photons are emitted from the material due to reflection, refraction, diffraction, Compton scattering, coherent scattering, and/or fluorescence.