Neutron irradiative methods and systems

A neutron elastic scattering detector device for non-invasively detecting the presence of at least one predetermined element of an object of interest, said detector device comprising:

• a neutron source simultaneously outputting at a creation time and a creation location a neutron in a first direction and an associated baseline particle in a second direction, said first direction being opposite of said second direction, said neutron impinging upon the at least one predetermined element of the object of interest and consequently scattering therefrom in a third direction, said neutron comprises known neutron velocity;
• a baseline particle detector system detecting said baseline particle and outputting a baseline signal in response thereto;
• a neutron detector system detecting said neutron and outputting a scattering signal in response thereto, said scattering signal comprises neutron arrival time data;
• and
• a processing unit in communication with said baseline particle detector system for receiving said baseline signal and said neutron detector system for receiving said scattering signal, said processing unit analyzing said baseline signal and said scattering signal to detect the presence of the at least one predetermined element, said processing unit determines whether said neutron has undergone more than one scattering event based on at least one of said neutron arrival time data and said third direction.

A method of non-invasively detecting the presence of at least one predetermined element of an object of interest, said method comprising:

• simultaneously creating a neutron traveling in a first direction and an associated baseline particle traveling in a second direction at a creation time and at a creation location, said first direction being opposite of said second direction;
• detecting arrival of said baseline particle and outputting a baseline signal in response thereto;
• impinging said neutron upon the at least one predetermined element of the object of interest causing said neutron to scatter therefrom in a third direction;
• detecting arrival of said neutron and outputting a scattering signal in response thereto having neutron arrival time data;
• analyzing said baseline signal and said scattering signal to detect the presence of the at least one predetermined element;
• and
• determining whether said neutron has undergone more than one scattering event based on at least one of said neutron arrival time data and said third direction.

A method of non-invasively detecting the presence of at least one predetermined element of an object of interest, said method comprising:

• simultaneously creating a first neutron having a first energy traveling in a first direction, a second neutron having a second energy different than said first energy, and an associated baseline particle traveling in a second direction at a creation time and at a creation location, said first direction being opposite of said second direction;
• detecting arrival of said baseline particle and outputting a baseline signal in response thereto;
• impinging said first neutron upon the at least one predetermined element of the object of interest causing said first neutron to scatter therefrom in a third direction;
• detecting arrival of said first neutron and outputting a scattering signal in response thereto;
• analyzing said baseline signal to determine said creation time, said second direction, and consequently said first direction;
• analyzing said scattering signal to determine said third direction and a resultant energy of said first neutron;
• and
• determining information of interest based on said analyzing said baseline signal and said scattering signal.