NUCLEAR RESONANCE IN ACTIVATION ANALYSIS, AND PARTICULARLY, ITS APPLICATION TO DETECTION OF NITROGEN BASED EXPLOSIVES IN LUGGAGE

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the presence ofan element of interest within an object (12).The object (12) is positioned where a beam of gamma rays (15) of the requiredenergy are directed to be scattered by the element(16) of interest. The gamma rays (15) are provided by excited atoms of theelement (16) of interest. The excited atoms result fromthe reaction of hydrogen or heavier ions and a suitable target (14). Theexcited atoms deexcite, releasing gamma rays (15) whichare scattered by the element (16) of interest within the object. The scatteredgamma rays are detected, output signals are produced,processed and analyzed to determine the amount of the element of interestwithin the object (12). A preferred embodiment relatesto the detection of nitrogen-based explosives in luggage: