System and Method for Quantifying X-Ray Backscatter System Performance

A system for quantifying x-ray backscatter system performance, the system comprising:

• a support;
• a plurality of rods mounted on the support;
• the rods of the plurality of rods arranged parallel to each other, having generally curved outer surfaces, and being arranged in groups of varying widths, each group of the groups having at least two of the rods of a same width;
• and
• a user interface configured to be connected to receive a backscatter signal from an x-ray backscatter detector associated with an x-ray tube, apply a transfer function to generate a transfer curve representing x-ray backscatter for each rod of the plurality of rods from x-rays transmitted by the x-ray tube.

A method for quantifying x-ray backscatter system performance, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of rods mounted on a support, the rods of the plurality of rods arranged parallel to each other, having a generally curved outer surfaces, and being arranged in groups of varying widths, each group of the groups having at least two of the rods of a same width;
• directing an x-ray beam at the plurality of rods;
• receiving x-ray backscatter from the impingement of the x-ray beam on the plurality of rods by a detector;
• applying a transfer function to photon counts of the x-ray backscatter received by the detector to generate a transfer curve representing x-ray backscatter for each rod of the plurality of rods from x-rays transmitted by the x-ray tube;
• and
• displaying the transfer curve on a user interface.