Contraband detection system
AssigneeThe Regents of the Universtiy of California
InventorStephen Sampayan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact contraband detection system having a radiography device which pre-screens an article subject to inspection to locate regions of interest which may then be further interrogated with a pulsed radiation generator, such as a pulsed fast neutron generator. The pulsed radiation generator includes an integrated particle generator-accelerator having a charged particle generator connected to a compact linear accelerator which produces, injects, and accelerates a charged particle beam. A beam target is provided in the path of the accelerated beam to generate a pulse of interrogating radiation which is directed to the article for interrogation.
Claims38
A pulsed radiation generator comprising:
- an integrated particle generator-accelerator comprising:
- a compact linear accelerator having at least one transmission line(s) extending toward a transverse acceleration axis;
- and a charged particle generator connected to the compact linear accelerator for producing and injecting a charged particle beam into the compact linear accelerator along the acceleration axis;
- switch means connectable to a high voltage potential for propagating at least one electrical wavefront(s) through the transmission line(s) of the compact linear accelerator to impress a pulsed gradient along the acceleration axis which imparts energy to the injected beam;
- and
- a beam target positioned to be impinged by the energized beam so that a pulse of radiation is generated thereby.
A contraband detection system comprising:
- means for pre-screening an article subject to inspection for contraband;
- a pulsed radiation generator comprising:
- an integrated particle generator-accelerator comprising:
- a compact linear accelerator having at least one transmission line(s) extending toward a transverse acceleration axis;
- and a charged particle generator connected to the compact linear accelerator for producing and injecting a charged particle beam into the compact linear accelerator along the acceleration axis;
- switch means connectable to a high voltage potential for propagating at least one electrical wavefront(s) through the transmission line(s) of the compact linear accelerator to impress a pulsed gradient along the acceleration axis which imparts energy to the injected beam;
- and;
- a beam target positioned to be impinged by the energized beam so that, upon impingement, a pulse of interrogating radiation is generated thereby and directed to the article;
- a controller for controlling the pulsed radiation generator to generate the pulse of interrogating radiation based on pre-screening results from the pre-screening means;
- and
- a pulsed radiation detector positioned to detect derivative radiation produced upon interrogating the article with the pulse of interrogating radiation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.