Photon Tagging for Precise Cargo Container Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation scanning systems for large objects, such as cargo containers, face challenges in accurately identifying materials due to imprecise attenuation measurements caused by the broad energy distribution of Bremsstrahlung X-ray photons, leading to high false positive rates and inefficiencies in contraband detection.
Innovation Solution
The use of 'tagged' photons with known energies, generated by accelerating electrons to a predetermined energy and correlating their initial and detected energies, allows for more precise attenuation coefficient and density determinations, enabling improved material identification within large containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard Bremsstrahlung radiation scanning is used, then the system can scan large containers, but the broad energy distribution of photons causes imprecise attenuation measurements and high false positive rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the broad Bremsstrahlung spectrum into discrete energy tags by correlating individual photons with their parent electrons. Each photon is assigned a specific energy tag based on its parent electron's energy, transforming the continuous energy distribution into discrete, measurable energy levels that enable precise attenuation calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electron detection as an intermediary mechanism to tag photons with known energies. By detecting the parent electron's energy before photon emission and correlating it with the subsequent photon detection, the system creates a bridge between the electron beam and photon spectrum, enabling precise energy identification without requiring direct photon energy measurement.
2Productivity
If manual inspection is used, then material identification can be performed, but it is time consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual inspection with an automated radiation scanning system that uses tagged photons to non-invasively detect materials. The system automatically measures attenuation coefficients and identifies materials based on their characteristic attenuation patterns, eliminating the need for manual physical inspection while maintaining or improving detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the inspection parameter from manual physical examination to measurement of radiation attenuation coefficients. By measuring how tagged photons are attenuated as they pass through materials, the system can identify materials based on their unique attenuation signatures, enabling rapid automated detection without manual intervention.
3Adaptability or versatility
If passive radiation detection is used, then radioactive materials can be detected, but it cannot effectively identify non-radioactive contraband materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the detection approach by using active radiation sources (tagged photons) to scan for materials rather than passively detecting radiation emitted by materials. This inversion allows the system to detect non-radioactive materials by measuring how they attenuate the incident tagged photons, greatly expanding material identification capability beyond radioactive substances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal detection system that can identify multiple types of materials (radioactive and non-radioactive) using the same tagged photon scanning technique. The system universally measures attenuation coefficients that are characteristic of various materials, enabling it to detect contraband ranging from nuclear materials to conventional explosives and drugs without requiring different detection methods for each material type.
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
This approach reduces false positives, enhances material identification accuracy, and decreases the radiation exposure and computational complexity, making it feasible for commercial use in scanning large containers for contraband.
Implementation Method 1
Radiation generated by the impact of a charged particle, such as an electron, on a target, such as tungsten, referred to as Bremsstrahlung radiation
Implementation Method 2
deflecting at least some of the respective accelerated electrons toward a first detector by a magnetic field and determining the first energies of the respective accelerated electrons detected by the detector based, at least in part, on a degree of deflection
Implementation Method 3
The radiation transmitted through the object is detected and measured. Radiographic images of the contents may be generated based on the detected radiation after scanning
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with an embodiment, a method of examining contents of objects comprises accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy and colliding the accelerated electrons with a target. An object is scanned with the generated X-ray photons. First energies of X-ray photons are determined after scanning and second energies of accelerated electrons are determined after colliding with the target, and correlated. Energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning are determined based, at least in part, on the second energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons and the predetermined acceleration energy. A potential presence of suspect material is determined based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the third energies of the detected X-ray photons prior to scanning. Systems are also disclosed.