Illicit substance detection using Fast-Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy

Conference · Sun May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:10149308

Micklich, B J; Harper, M K; Novick, A H; Smith, D L

Fast-neutron interrogation techniques are of interest for detecting illicit substances such as explosives and drugs because of their ability to identify light elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Fast-Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy (FNTS) uses standard time-of-flight techniques to measure the energy spectrum of neutrons emitted from a collimated continuum source before and after transmission through the interrogated sample. The Monte Carlo transport code MCNP is used to model fast-neutron transmission experiments using a {sup 9}Be(d,n) source [E{sub d}= 5 MeV]. The areal densities (number of atoms per cm{sup 2}), and the uncertainties, of various elements present in the sample are determined by an unfolding algorithm which includes the effects of cross-section errors and correlations. Results are displayed in the form of normalized densities, including their errors and correlations, which are then compared to the values for explosives and benign substances. Probabilistic interpretations of the results are discussed in terms of substance detection and identification.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: Federal Aviation Administration, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 10149308
• Report Number(s): ANL/TD/CP--82610; CONF-940524--4; ON: DE94011523; CNN: Contract DTFA03-03-X-00021
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440103
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
663610
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
DETECTION
DRUGS
FAST NEUTRONS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON PHYSICS
NEUTRON SPECTROSCOPY
NEUTRON TRANSPORT
NUCLEAR SPECTROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTATION
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD