Active Charged Particle Tomography for Shielded Nuclear Material Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current nuclear material detection systems, such as those using high resolution gamma or X-ray detectors, are ineffective when shielding is used to obscure neutron and gamma ray signatures, and struggle to detect small quantities of nuclear materials.
Innovation Solution
An active charged particle tomographic imaging system that generates and controls charged particles, such as muons, to interact with objects, using position sensitive detectors to track and analyze scattering, providing a tomographic profile and spatial distribution of scattering centers within the object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high resolution gamma or X-ray detectors are used for nuclear material detection, then detection capability is improved, but effectiveness is reduced when shielding is used to obscure signatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cosmic ray-produced muons as an intermediary detection mechanism. These high-energy charged particles naturally penetrate deep into shielded materials and interact with nuclear substances through Coulomb scattering, providing detection capability that bypasses traditional gamma/X-ray shielding limitations. The muons serve as a mediator that can probe through dense shielding where conventional radiation detectors fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental detection parameter from electromagnetic radiation interaction (gamma/X-ray) to charged particle scattering interaction (muons). By utilizing the different physical interaction mechanisms—specifically Coulomb scattering of charged particles versus electromagnetic absorption of photons—the system achieves detection capability that is insensitive to shielding thickness and composition.
2Reliability
If active charged particle tomographic imaging is implemented, then detection of shielded nuclear materials is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes naturally occurring cosmic ray muons as the radiation source, eliminating the need for complex artificial radiation generators. The environment continuously provides high-energy charged particles that can penetrate shielding, and the detection system simply needs to track these naturally occurring particles and their scattering patterns to identify nuclear materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical radiation generation and control systems with a passive detection system that tracks naturally occurring cosmic ray muons. Instead of actively generating and controlling radiation sources, the system uses position-sensitive detectors to observe and analyze the trajectories of naturally occurring high-energy particles, significantly reducing device complexity.
3Length of stationary object
If cosmic ray-produced muons are used for detection, then penetration depth and sensitivity to high atomic number materials are improved, but radiation dose concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system exploits the natural background flux of cosmic ray muons that continuously bombard the Earth's surface. These particles are already present in the environment at levels that do not constitute harmful radiation exposure. By detecting and tracking these naturally occurring particles rather than introducing additional radiation sources, the system achieves deep penetration capability without increasing radiation dose to personnel or the environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables robust detection of nuclear materials, including shielded threats, with increased effectiveness and reduced costs, by utilizing cosmic ray-produced muons that penetrate deeply and are sensitive to high atomic number materials like uranium, without causing radiation dose above background levels.
Implementation Method 1
A nuclear interaction between the accelerated proton and atomic nucleus of the target unit can produce pions
Implementation Method 2
analyzing scattering of the charged particles in one or more materials included in the object based on the received signals indicative of the information on the charged particles exiting the volume
Data Source
AI summary
An active radiation source portal monitoring system includes a particle accelerator to generate accelerated protons as a source of charged particles; a charged particles control unit to control the charged particles to enter into a volume to be scanned in a desired direction to interact with an object; a particle tracking unit to detect the charged particles exiting the volume after interacting with the object and generate signals indicative of information on the charged particles exiting the volume; and a signal processing unit communicatively coupled to the particle tracking unit. The signal processing unit can receive the generated signals and analyze scattering of the charged particles in one or more materials included in the object based on the received signals indicative of the information on the charged particles exiting the volume to obtain a tomographic profile or a spatial distribution of scattering centers within the object.