Intensity-Modulated Advanced X-ray Source (IMAXS) for Homeland Security Applications

Langeveld, W. G.J.; Johnson, William A.; Owen, Roger DeBaun; Schonberg, R. G.

doi:10.1063/1.3120115

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…1,2,3 Here, the X-ray source intensity is adjusted based on the maximum attenuation of the previous slice. Electronics in the detector array detects the maximum attenuation within the slice and sends commands to the source to change the intensity to an appropriate value.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical intensity modulation for improved radiographic penetration and reduced exclusion zone

Bendahán¹,

Langeveld²,

Bharadwaj

et al. 2016

Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser.

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In the present work, a method to direct the X-ray beam in real time to the desired locations in the cargo to increase penetration and reduce exclusion zone is presented. Cargo scanners employ high energy X-rays to produce radiographic images of the cargo. Most new scanners employ dualenergy to produce, in addition to attenuation maps, atomic number information in order to facilitate the detection of contraband. The electron beam producing the bremsstrahlung X-ray beam is usually directed approximately to the center of the container, concentrating the highest Xray intensity to that area. Other parts of the container are exposed to lower radiation levels due to the large drop-off of the bremsstrahlung radiation intensity as a function of angle, especially for high energies (>6 MV). This results in lower penetration in these areas, requiring higher power sources that increase the dose and exclusion zone. The capability to modulate the X-ray source intensity on a pulse-by-pulse basis to deliver only as much radiation as required to the cargo has been reported previously. This method is, however, controlled by the most attenuating part of the inspected slice, resulting in excessive radiation to other areas of the cargo. A method to direct a dual-energy beam has been developed to provide a more precisely controlled level of required radiation to highly attenuating areas. The present method is based on steering the dual-energy electron beam using magnetic components on a pulse-to-pulse basis to a fixed location on the Xray production target, but incident at different angles so as to direct the maximum intensity of the produced bremsstrahlung to the desired locations. The details of the technique and subsystem and simulation results are presented.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical intensity modulation for improved radiographic penetration and reduced exclusion zone

Bendahán¹,

Langeveld²,

Bharadwaj

et al. 2016

Int. J. Mod. Phys. Conf. Ser.

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“…Background on the different laboratory analysis methods of illicit drugs (forensic evidence) is omitted because it is not the focus of this dissertation. [53] This type of source allows cargo inspection systems to achieve up to two inches greater penetration capability, while still retaining the same radiation footprint as compared the present fixed-intensity source. [53] Nevertheless, X-rays have small interaction probability with low electron density organic materials, which is sometimes the case for illicit drugs and is commonly the cases for explosives.…”

Section: Detection Of Concealed Illicit Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[53] This type of source allows cargo inspection systems to achieve up to two inches greater penetration capability, while still retaining the same radiation footprint as compared the present fixed-intensity source. [53] Nevertheless, X-rays have small interaction probability with low electron density organic materials, which is sometimes the case for illicit drugs and is commonly the cases for explosives. These materials have undistinguishable X-ray absorption or incoherent scattering characteristics, thus making detection difficult.…”

Section: Detection Of Concealed Illicit Drugsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Construction and Optimization on an Ion Mobility Spectrometer for the Analysis of Explosives and Drugs

Lai¹

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All rights reserved.iv DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my family, especially to my mom and dad whom many years ago left their mother country with two pairs of empty hands, and brought their children to the land of opportunities. It is because of them that today I have the chance to study and follow my dreams. I could not be where I am today without their love, hard work, support, and sacrifice.They are my existence and my success will forever be theirs.I would like to dedicate this work to all the friends in my personal and professional network, who have always welcomed me with their kind word, kind thought, and kind heart. Last but not least, I dedicate this dissertation to my special friend Michael, who has been by my side throughout the hardest years, to whom I can share my true emotions especially in the down times. His unconditional love, support, trust, and confidence in me has helped and will continue to help me overcome many tough waves in life. Today, over 15,000 Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS) analyzers are employed at worldwide security checkpoints to detect explosives and illicit drugs. Current portal IMS instruments and other electronic nose technologies detect explosives and drugs by analyzing samples containing the headspace air and loose particles residing on a surface. Canines can outperform these systems at sampling and detecting the low vapor pressure explosives and drugs, such as RDX, PETN, cocaine, and MDMA, because these biological detectors target the volatile signature compounds available in the headspace rather than the non-volatile parent compounds of explosives and drugs.In this dissertation research volatile signature compounds available in the headspace over explosive and drug samples were detected using SPME as a headspace sampling tool coupled to an IMS analyzer. A Genetic Algorithm (GA) technique was developed to optimize the operating conditions of a commercial IMS (GE Itemizer 2), leading to the successful detection of plastic explosives (Detasheet, Semtex H, and C-4) and illicit drugs (cocaine, MDMA, and marijuana).Short sampling times (between 10 sec to 5 min) were adequate to extract and preconcentrate sufficient analytes (> 20 ng) representing the volatile signatures in the headspace of a 15 mL glass vial or a quart-sized can containing ≤ 1 g of the bulk explosive or drug.vii Furthermore, a research grade IMS with flexibility for changing operating conditions and physical configurations was designed and fabricated to accommodate future research into different analytes or physical configurations. The design and construction of the FIU-IMS were facilitated by computer modeling and simulation of ion's behavior within an IMS. The simulation method developed uses SIMION/SDS and was evaluated with experimental data collected using a commercial IMS (PCP Phemto Chem 110). The FIU-IMS instrument has comparable performance to the GE Itemizer 2 (average resolving power of 14, resolution of 3 between two drugs and two explosives, and LODs range from 0.7 to 9 ng).The results ...

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Proposed New Accelerator Design for Homeland Security X-Ray Applications

Clayton

Shedlock

Langeveld³

et al. 2015

Physics Procedia

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Intensity-Modulated Advanced X-ray Source (IMAXS) for Homeland Security Applications

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Vertical intensity modulation for improved radiographic penetration and reduced exclusion zone

Vertical intensity modulation for improved radiographic penetration and reduced exclusion zone

The Construction and Optimization on an Ion Mobility Spectrometer for the Analysis of Explosives and Drugs

Proposed New Accelerator Design for Homeland Security X-Ray Applications

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