Contraband detection using high-energy gamma rays from 16O*

Bradley J. Micklich; Charles L. Fink; Leonid Sagalovsky; Donald L. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.266270

6 February 1997 Contraband detection using high-energy gamma rays from ¹⁶O*

Bradley J. Micklich, Charles L. Fink, Leonid Sagalovsky, Donald L. Smith

Proceedings Volume 2936, Physics-Based Technologies for the Detection of Contraband; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266270
Event: Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security, 1996, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

High-energy monoenergetic gamma rays (6.13 and 7.12 MeV) from the decay of excited states of the ¹⁶O* nucleus are highly penetrating and thus offer potential for non- intrusive inspection of loaded containers for narcotics, explosives, and other contraband items. These excited states can be produced by irradiation of water with 14-MeV neutrons from a DT neutron generator or through the ¹⁹F(p,alpha)¹⁶O* reaction. Resonances in ¹⁹F(p,alpha)¹⁶O* at proton energies between 340 keV and 2 MeV allow use of a low-energy accelerator to provide a compact, portable gamma source of reasonable intensity. The present work provides estimates of gamma source parameters and suggests how various types of contraband could be detected. Gamma rays can be used to perform transmission or emission radiography of containers or other objects. Through the use of (gamma,n) and (gamma,fission) reactions, this technique is also capable of detecting special nuclear materials such as deuterium, lithium, beryllium, uranium, and plutonium. Analytic and Monte Carlo techniques are used to model empty and loaded container inspection for accelerator-produced gamma, radioisotope, and x-ray sources.

Citation Download Citation

Bradley J. Micklich, Charles L. Fink, Leonid Sagalovsky, and Donald L. Smith "Contraband detection using high-energy gamma rays from ¹⁶O*", Proc. SPIE 2936, Physics-Based Technologies for the Detection of Contraband, (6 February 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.266270

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