Passport Systems, Inc.

Applied Materials, Inc.

Robert J Ledoux

William Bertozzi

Stephen E Korbly

William Philip Nett

Daniel A Cooper

James B Costales

Krzysztof E Kamieniecki

Jeffrey K Thompson

Raymond Paul Boisseau

James K Roberge

Alexei V Klimenko

Carol Johnstone

Cody M Wilson

Daniel L Higgs

Wilbur Franklin

Gustavo Bottan

Boisseau Raymond Paul

Methods and systems for non-intrusively detecting existence of fissile materials by measuring energetic prompt neutrons. The unique nature of the prompt neutron energy spectrum from photo-fission arising from emission of neutrons from almost fully accelerated fragments is used to unambiguously identify fissile material. Angular distribution of prompt neutrons from photo-fission and energy distribution correlated to neutron angle relative to the photon beam are used to distinguish odd-even from even-even nuclei undergoing photo-fission. Independence of the neutron yield curve (yield as a function of electron beam energy or photon energy) on neutron energy is used to distinguish photo-fission from other processes such as (&#x3b3;, n). Different beam geometries detect localized samples of fissile material and fissile materials dispersed as small fragments or thin sheets over broad regions. These signals from photo-fission are unique, allowing detection of any material in the actinide region of the nuclear periodic table.

Non-intrusive method to identify presence of nuclear materials using energetic prompt neutrons from photon-induced fission

Methods and systems are disclosed for detecting a source (such as, e.g., radioactive and chemical sources) using a plurality of networked sensors communicating with a central processor over network. A method can involve injecting a simulated source in the system of networked sensors for use in operational training and/or testing.

Injection of simulated sources in a system of networked sensors

A large system of networked sensors requires the management and distribution of sensor data via an intelligent server (SmartServer). In this network of sensors, one or more SmartServers use the underlying processes of source detection to optimize network data flow.

Methods and systems for detecting a material source using a server and networked sensors

Efficient techniques and devices for detecting, locating, tracking, and identifying radiation sources using a network of one or more detectors are disclosed.

Spectral segmentation for optimized sensitivity and computation in advanced radiation detectors

Methods and systems are disclosed wherein neutrons are produced by a photon induced process 2D(&#x3b3;,n) and the ensuing neutrons are thermalized and captured by hydrogen producing a 2.223 MeV gamma that is used to identify and quantify the presence of hydrogen and which, when combined with NRF signals from certain isotopes, can be used to establish the nature of a hydrogenous compound or a mixture of hydrogenous materials or a mixture of hydrogenous materials with other non-hydrogenous materials. The method is useful to establish, e.g., the presence and quantification of explosives, toxic substances and general contraband as well as the flow of materials in a production line or shipping venue.

Methods and systems for non-intrusive chemical assaying of hydrogenous materials and mixtures using combined neutron activation and nuclear resonance fluorescence

Methods and apparatus are described wherein a charged beam in an enclosed conducting cavity in an accelerator is monitored for position, current, and energy. One method uses induced electric signals on non-intercepting conducting electrodes. Another method uses an intercepting and moving electrode than can be moved into the beam to different degrees to monitor the beam current and vertical profile at different radial positions. Non-intercepting electrodes are also used as part of a moving diagnostic probe to monitor properties of the beam at different radial positions. Another method uses the current in the leads to a power supply, a portion of this current being equal to the beam current. Another method uses the magnetic and electric fields from the beam that penetrates a non-conducting portion of the conducting cavity. Yet another method uses the radiation emitted during acceleration of the beam by the deflecting magnets that guide the beam.

Diagnostic methods and apparatus for an accelerator using induction to generate an electric field with a localized curl

Methods and systems for non-intrusively detecting the existence of fissile materials in a container via the measurement of energetic prompt neutrons are disclosed. The methods and systems use the unique nature of the prompt neutron energy spectrum from neutron-induced fission arising from the emission of neutrons from almost fully accelerated fragments to unambiguously identify fissile material. These signals from neutron-induced fission are unique and allow the detection of any material in the actinide region of the nuclear periodic table.

Non-intrusive method to identify presence of nuclear materials using energetic prompt neutrons from neutron-induced fission

A method is described wherein a beam of charged particles is confined to an orbit within a compact region of space as it is accelerated across a wide range of energies. This confinement is achieved using a non-scaling magnetic field based on the Fixed Alternating Gradient principle where the field strength includes non-linear components. Examples of magnet configurations designed using this method are disclosed.

Methods and systems for confining charged particles to a compact orbit during acceleration using a non-scaling fixed field alternating gradient magnetic field

Methods and systems for non-intrusively detecting the existence of fissile materials in a container via the measurement of energetic prompt neutrons are disclosed. The methods and systems use the unique nature of the prompt neutron energy spectrum from photo-fission arising from the emission of neutrons from almost fully accelerated fragments to unambiguously identify fissile material. The angular distribution of the prompt neutrons from photo-fission and the energy distribution correlated to neutron angle relative to the photon beam are used to distinguish odd-even from even-even nuclei undergoing photo-fission. The independence of the neutron yield curve (yield as a function of electron beam energy or photon energy) on neutron energy also is also used to distinguish photo-fission from other processes such as (&#x3b3;, n). Different beam geometries are used to detect localized samples of fissile material and also fissile materials dispersed as small fragments or thin sheets over broad regions. These signals from photo-fission are unique and allow the detection of any material in the actinide region of the nuclear periodic table.

Disclosed herein are methods and systems of scanning a target for potential threats using the energy spectra of photons scattered from the target to determine the spatial distributions of average atomic number and/or mass in the target. An exemplary method comprises: illuminating each of a plurality of voxels of the target with a photon beam; determining an incident flux upon each voxel; measuring the energy spectrum of photons scattered from the voxel; determining, using the energy spectrum, the average atomic number in the voxel; and determining the mass in the voxel using the incident flux, the average atomic number of the material in the voxel, the energy spectrum, and a scattering kernel corresponding to the voxel. An exemplary system may use threat detection heuristics to determine whether to trigger further action based upon the average atomic number and/or mass of the voxels.

Methods and systems for determining the average atomic number and mass of materials

A method is described wherein the acceleration of a beam of charged particles is achieved using the properties of conductors to limit the penetration of magnetic and electric fields in short times compared to natural time constants. This allows the use of induction electric fields with a Curl localized to a gap to accelerate particles while coupling the accelerated beam to a power supply. Two methods of coupling the particle beam to the power supply are disclosed as exemplary.

Methods and systems for accelerating particles using induction to generate an electric field with a localized curl

A method for detecting nuclear species in a sample by adaptive scanning using nuclear resonance fluorescence may comprise illuminating the target sample with photons from a source; detecting a signal in an energy channel; determining a scan evaluation parameter using the signal detected; determining whether the scan evaluation parameter meets a detection efficiency criterion; adjusting one or more system parameters such that the scan evaluation parameter meets the detection efficiency criterion; and comparing the signal in an energy channel to a predetermined species detection criterion to identify a species detection event. In another embodiment, detecting a signal in an energy channel may further comprise detecting photons scattered from the target sample. In another embodiment, detecting a signal in an energy channel may further comprise detecting photons transmitted through the target sample and scattered from at least one reference scatterer.

Adaptive scanning of materials using nuclear resonance fluorescence imaging

The transmission of photons through a target produces 'holes' in the transmitted energy spectrum that are characteristic of the NRF energies of the nuclear isotopes in the target. Measuring the absorption via the transmission of these photons through a target allows the production of tomographic images that are associated with specific nuclear isotopes. Thus three-dimensional density patterns are generated for the elements in a container. The process is very much like standard X-ray tomography but it identifies specific nuclear isotopes as well as their densities.

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Harvard, MA, United States of America

Robert J Ledoux