Detection of subsurface fissionable nuclear contamination through the application of photonuclear techniques
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorGary F. Mastny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A photoneutron detection apparatus comprises an X-ray generator and a neutron detector adapted for placement in proximity to subsurface soil. The X-ray generator produces timed pulses of X-ray photons having a range of electronically controlled energies which penetrate the subsurface soil to produce photoneutron emissions that are received by the neutron detector. The neutron detector generates a signal representative of the neutron flux. A signal analysis system time correlates the signal with the timed X-ray pulses to determine the presence of selected contaminants.
Claims18
A photoneutron detection apparatus for detecting selected contaminants in subsurface soil comprising:
- a housing configured to be disposed in proximity to said subsurface soil;
- a generator disposed in said housing for generating X-ray photons having selected energies to irradiate said subsurface soil with timed pulses of said X-ray photons;
- a detector disposed in said housing for detecting photoneutrons emitted from said subsurface soil in response to said X-ray photons and for generating signals representative of neutron flux of said photoneutrons;
- and
- a signal analyzer for receiving said signals and for time correlating said signals corresponding to said selected energies with said timed pulses to determine the presence of said selected contaminants in said subsurface soil.
A method for detecting selected contaminants in subsurface soil by photoneutron emission comprising the steps of:
- irradiating said subsurface soil with timed pulses of X-ray photons having selected energies;
- detecting photoneutrons produced in said subsurface soil in response to said X-ray photons and generating signals representative of neutron flux of said photoneutrons;
- receiving said signals;
- and
- time correlating said signals corresponding to said selected energies with said toned pulses to determine the presence of said selected contaminants in said subsurface soil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.