Detectors for the gamma-ray resonant absorption (GRA) method of explosives detection in cargo: a comparative study

David Vartsky; Mark B Goldberg; Gideon Engler; Asher Shor; Aharon Goldschmidt; Gennady Feldman; Doron Bar; Itzhak Orion; Lucian Wielopolski

doi:10.1117/12.508262

20 January 2004 Detectors for the gamma-ray resonant absorption (GRA) method of explosives detection in cargo: a comparative study

David Vartsky, Mark B Goldberg, Gideon Engler, Asher Shor, Aharon Goldschmidt, Gennady Feldman, Doron Bar, Itzhak Orion, Lucian Wielopolski

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5198, Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics V; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508262
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Gamma-Ray Resonant Absorption (GRA) is an automatic-decision radiographic screening technique that combines high radiation penetration with very good sensitivity and specificity to nitrogenous explosives. The method is particularly well-suited to inspection of large, massive objects (since the resonant γ-ray probe is at 9.17 MeV) such as aviation and marine containers, heavy vehicles and railroad cars. Two kinds of γ-ray detectors have been employed to date in GRA systems: 1) Resonant-response nitrogen-rich liquid scintillators and 2) BGO detectors. This paper analyses and compares the response of these detector-types to the resonant radiation, in terms of single-pixel figures of merit. The latter are sensitive not only to detector response, but also to accelerator-beam quality, via the properties of the nuclear reaction that produces the resonant-γ-rays. Generally, resonant detectors give rise to much higher nitrogen-contrast sensitivity in the radiographic image than their non-resonant detector counterparts and furthermore, do not require proton beams of high energy-resolution. By comparison, the non-resonant detectors have higher γ-detection efficiency, but their contrast sensitivity is very sensitive to the quality of the accelerator beam. Implications of these detector/accelerator characteristics for eventual GRA field systems are discussed.

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David Vartsky, Mark B Goldberg, Gideon Engler, Asher Shor, Aharon Goldschmidt, Gennady Feldman, Doron Bar, Itzhak Orion, and Lucian Wielopolski "Detectors for the gamma-ray resonant absorption (GRA) method of explosives detection in cargo: a comparative study", Proc. SPIE 5198, Hard X-Ray and Gamma-Ray Detector Physics V, (20 January 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.508262

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