Detection of hidden explosives by using tagged neutron beams with sub-nanosecond time resolution

Simulation of a tagged neutron inspection system prototype

“…The same calculations have been repeated in the case of a cargo container filled with an averaged organic matrix of composition C 2.6 H 5.05 N 0.55 O 1.6 and density = 0.5 g/cm 3 .…”

“…The beam is tagged by detecting the associated alpha particle produced in the reaction with a segmented α-particle detector (API technique) [2,3]. The position of the alpha particle defines the neutron emission angle (because alpha and neutron are emitted almost back-to-back).…”

“…The TNT target is surrounded either by a metallic or organic matrix that fill all the remaining cargo volume. The metallic matrix is composed of 0.2 cm thick iron boxes 66×60×50 cm 3 (66×60×35 cm 3 for the higher layer), filled with bundles of iron wire of density = 0.2 g/cm 3 ; the organic matrix consists of pannels made of dry (10% water) spruce wood with density = 0.5 g/cm 3 .…”

“…The organic matrix is composed by pannels made of dry (10% water) spruce wood with composition C 3.8 H 6.5 N 0.13 O 2.9 and density = 0.5 g/cm 3 .…”

“…The project is aimed at developing a cargo inspection system to ascertain the presence or not of threat materials or smuggled goods without opening the cargo container. It is based on an innovative Tagged Neutron Inspection System (TNIS), which uses the Associated Particle Image (API) technique [1,2,3].…”