Integrated Primary and Special Nuclear Material Alarm Resolution

Abstract

The present specification discloses methods for inspecting an object. The method includes scanning an object in a two-step process. In the primary scan, a truck or cargo container (container) is completely scanned with a fan beam radiation, the transmitted radiation is measured with an array of detectors, and the transmission information and optionally the fission signatures are analyzed to determine the presence of high-density, high-Z and fissionable materials. If the container alarms in one or more areas, the areas are subjected to a secondary scan. This is done by precisely repositioning the container to the location of the suspect areas, adjusting the scanning system to focus on the suspect areas, performing a stationary irradiation of the areas, and analyzing the measured feature signatures to clear or confirm the presence of SNM.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a division application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 274,542, entitled “Integrated Primary and Special Nuclear Material Alarm Resolution” and filed on May 9, 2014, which relies on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 821,610, of the same title and filed on May 9, 2013, for priority.[0002]U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 274,542 is also a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 035,886, entitled “Systems and Methods for Detecting Nuclear Material”, and filed on Feb. 25, 2011, which, in turn, relies upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 308,254, filed on Feb. 25, 2010, for priority and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 313,200, filed on Mar. 12, 2010, for priority.[0003]All of the above-mentioned applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present specification describes systems and methods ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a way to generate a maximum width fan beam by optionally eliminating a portion of a vertical slit. This helps to improve the performance and efficiency of the fan beam generation process.

Problems solved by technology

Delayed neutrons, however, while a unique indicator of the occurrence of fission, are very few in number and of low energy, thereby severely reducing the efficacy of the inspection system, especially for hydrogenous cargo.

However, the fission prompt neutrons are produced at virtually the same time as the far more numerous probing radiation incident on the nuclear material; thus resulting in blinding all detectors.

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