engleski

Fast neutron inspection of sea containers for the presence of 'dirty bomb'

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 the 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.

dirty bomb ; fast neutron inspection ; time-of-flight measurement

Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Applications - Proceedings of the 6th Topical Meeting on Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Applications, 6th Topical Meeting on Industrial Radiation and Radioisotope Measurement Applications, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada 20-24 June 2005, Edited by Fiona E. McNeill, Robin P. Gardner and William L. Dunn