Detection of Landmines by Neutron Backscattering: Effects of Soil Moisture on the Detection System

Journal Article · Thu Jan 21 04:00:00 EST 2010 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3322558· OSTI ID:21371490

Baysoy, D Y; Subasi, M ^[1]

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1. Yildiz Technical University, Department of Physics, Davutpasa, 34220, Istanbul (Turkey)

Detection of buried land mines by using neutron backscattering technique (NBS) is a well established method. It depends on detecting a hydrogen anomaly in dry soil. Since a landmine and its plastic casing contain much more hydrogen atoms than the dry soil, this anomaly can be detected by observing a rise in the number of neutrons moderated to thermal or epithermal energy. But, the presence of moisture in the soil limits the effectiveness of the measurements. In this work, a landmine detection system using the NBS technique was designed. A series of Monte Carlo calculations was carried out to determine the limits of the system due to the moisture content of the soil. In the simulations, an isotropic fast neutron source ({sup 252}Cf, 100 mug) and a neutron detection system which consists of five {sup 3}He detectors were used in a practicable geometry. In order to see the effects of soil moisture on the efficiency of the detection system, soils with different water contents were tested.

• OSTI ID: 21371490
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 1203; ISSN 0094-243X; ISSN APCPCS
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BACKSCATTERING
BARYON REACTIONS
BARYONS
CALCULATION METHODS
CALIFORNIUM 252
CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DETECTION
EFFICIENCY
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPLOSIVES
FAST NEUTRONS
FERMIONS
HADRON REACTIONS
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HELIUM 3
HELIUM ISOTOPES
HYDROGEN
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MOISTURE
MONTE CARLO METHOD
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON REACTIONS
NEUTRONS
NONMETALS
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEON REACTIONS
NUCLEONS
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
RADIATION DETECTION
RADIOISOTOPES
SCATTERING
SENSITIVITY
SIMULATION
SOILS
SPONTANEOUS FISSION RADIOISOTOPES
STABLE ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES