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Title: Fissile interrogation using gamma rays from oxygen

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1174822

The subject apparatus provides a means to identify the presence of fissionable material or other nuclear material contained within an item to be tested. The system employs a portable accelerator to accelerate and direct protons to a fluorine-compound target. The interaction of the protons with the fluorine-compound target produces gamma rays which are directed at the item to be tested. If the item to be tested contains either a fissionable material or other nuclear material the interaction of the gamma rays with the material contained within the test item with result in the production of neutrons. A system of neutron detectors is positioned to intercept any neutrons generated by the test item. The results from the neutron detectors are analyzed to determine the presence of a fissionable material or other nuclear material.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Chicago, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
W-31-109-ENG-38
Assignee:
The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy (Washington, DC)
Patent Number(s):
6,724,852
Application Number:
09/799,571
OSTI ID:
1174822
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2001 Mar 07
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English