System and method for detecting explosive materials
AssigneesRaytheon Company, Purdue Research Foundation
InventorsDavid S. Koltick, Yeong E. Kim, Jayson K. Bopp, Joseph C. Deno, Paul G. Jones
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Abstract
A system for detecting explosive materials includes at least one deuterium/tritium neutron generator module, at least one germanium detector module, and an analysis module. The deuterium/tritium neutron generator module bombards an object with neutrons. The germanium detector module detects gamma rays emitted by the object in response to the neutrons. The analysis module analyzes the gamma rays detected by the germanium detector module for the presence of explosive materials on or within the object.
Claims26
A system for detecting explosive materials, comprising:
- at least one neutron generator module operable to bombard an object with neutrons;
- at least one gamma ray detector module operable to detect gamma rays emitted by the object in response to the neutrons;
- and
- an analysis module operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one gamma ray detector module for the presence of explosive materials on or within the object;
- wherein the at least neutron generator module and at least one gamma ray detector module are operable to move in a substantially synchronized manner relative to at least one dimension of the object;
- wherein the analysis module is operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one gamma ray detector module for an area with a higher concentration of oxygen;
- and
- wherein the analysis module is further operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one gamma ray detector module for an area with a higher concentration of nitrogen in response to detecting an area with a higher concentration of oxygen.
A method of detecting explosive materials, comprising:
- moving at least one neutron generator module and at least one gamma ray detector module in a substantially synchronized manner relative to at least one dimension of an object;
- bombarding the object with neutrons generated by the at least one neutron generator module;
- detecting gamma rays emitted by the object in response to the neutrons with the at least one gamma ray detector module;
- analyzing the gamma rays emitted by the object for an area with a higher concentration of oxygen;
- and
- analyzing the gamma rays for an area with a higher concentration of nitrogen in response to detecting an area with a higher concentration of oxygen.
A system for detecting explosive materials, comprising:
- at least one deuterium/tritium neutron generator module operable to bombard an object with neutrons;
- at least one germanium detector module operable to detect gamma rays emitted by the object in response to the neutrons;
- and
- an analysis module operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one germanium detector module for the presence of explosive materials on or within the object;
- wherein the analysis module is operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one germanium detector module for a high concentration of oxygen;
- and
- wherein the analysis module is further operable to analyze the gamma rays detected by the at least one germanium detector module for a high concentration of nitrogen in response to detecting a high concentration of oxygen.
A method of detecting explosive materials, comprising:
- bombarding an object with neutrons generated by a deuterium/tritium neutron generator module;
- detecting gamma rays emitted by the object in response to the neutrons at a gamma ray detector module;
- analyzing the gamma rays emitted by the object for a high concentration of oxygen;
- and
- analyzing the gamma rays for a high concentration of nitrogen in response to detecting a high concentration of oxygen.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.