Tomographic Imaging with Ambient Cosmic Ray Flux
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tomographic imaging systems relying on actively produced radiation beams face complexity in data processing architecture, which is not applicable for systems using random cosmic ray charged particles, requiring innovative methods to reconstruct particle tracks and image volumes of interest effectively.
Innovation Solution
A Multimode Passive Detection System (MMPDS) that processes detector signals to reconstruct images and identify material regions of interest using ambient cosmic ray charged particles, incorporating data processing pipelines for merging detector data, identifying particle tracks, and determining material presence, while also monitoring system health.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If actively produced radiation beams are used for tomographic imaging, then the data processing architecture can be keyed to the beam shape and position, but the system complexity and cost increase due to active radiation sources
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses naturally occurring cosmic ray charged particles as a passive illuminating source, eliminating the need for active radiation production systems. The ambient particle flux serves the imaging function without requiring complex radiation generation equipment, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining data processing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the active radiation source component from the tomographic imaging system, relying instead on the naturally occurring cosmic ray flux. This extraction eliminates the complexity associated with active radiation production while preserving the essential imaging function through passive detection
2Speed
If actively produced radiation beams are used for tomographic imaging, then controlled scanning is achieved, but the system becomes less adaptable to passive detection methods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to the random arrival patterns of cosmic ray particles by implementing real-time data processing pipelines that can handle uncharacterized particle trajectories. The processing architecture dynamically adjusts to passive detection requirements while maintaining imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The data processing pipeline is designed to be universal, capable of handling both the controlled scanning mode and passive cosmic ray detection mode. The system integrates multiple detection capabilities within a single framework, enabling adaptability across different operational modes
3Device complexity
If random cosmic ray charged particles are used instead of active beams, then system cost and complexity are reduced, but the particle trajectories become random and uncharacterized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary data processing pipeline that mediates between the random cosmic ray particle detections and the final image reconstruction. This intermediary processing layer reconstructs particle tracks and extracts meaningful information from the uncharacterized trajectories, bridging the gap between passive detection and informative imaging
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical/controlled beam steering mechanism with a computational approach. Instead of physically controlling particle trajectories through beam steering, the system uses data processing algorithms to reconstruct tracks and extract spatial information from randomly arriving particles
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, cost-effective tomographic imaging and detection of materials using natural cosmic rays, capable of tracking individual particle tracks and reconstructing three-dimensional distributions of atomic number and density, even with random and uncharacterized particle trajectories.
Implementation Method 1
detector signals received from charged particle detectors to reconstruct an image of a scanned volume and identify contiguous material regions of interest (ROI) in the scanned volume
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for operating a multimode passive detection system (MMPDS). System control settings including operating parameters for the multimode passive detection system are stored. Detector signals are processed to reconstruct an image of a scanned volume and identify an object in the scanned volume based on the reconstructed image. The operating parameters and the detector signals at different processing stages are recorded. An operational health of the multimode passive detection system is monitored. Monitoring the operational health includes receiving information representing the operational health of various components of the multimode passive detection system, and determining an operational health status of one or more of the various components of the multimode passive detection system based on the received information representing the operational health of the multimode passive detection system.