Fast neutron inspection of sea containers for the presence of “dirty bomb”

✍ Scribed by V. Valković; D. Sudac; S. Blagus; K. Nađ; J. Obhođaš; B. Vekić; G. Nebbia; S. Pesente

• Book ID: 103862302
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 274 KB
• Volume: 263
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0168-583X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nimb.2007.04.169

✦ Synopsis

The possibility of the detection of ''dirty bomb'' presence inside sea containers is evaluated. The method proposed for explosive and fissile material detection makes use of two sensors (X-rays and neutrons). A commercial imaging device based on the X-ray radiography performs a fast scan of the container, identifies a ''suspect'' region and provides its coordinates to the neutron based device for the final ''confirmatory'' inspection. In this two sensor system a 14 MeV neutron beam defined by the detection of associated alpha particles is used for interrogation of only volume elements marked by X-ray sensor. The object's nature is determined from passive and neutron induced, gamma energy spectra measurements. Experimental results (time-of-flight and gamma energy spectra) obtained for the irradiation 30 kg of TNT, depleted uranium and other materials hidden inside the container are presented.