Bradley J. Micklich

Evaluation of neutron techniques for illicit substance detection

We are studying inspection systems based on the use of fast neutrons for detecting illicit substances such as explosives and drugs in luggage and cargo containers. Fast-neutron techniques can determine the quantities of light elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen in a volume element. Illicit substances containing these elements are characterized by distinctive elemental densities or density ratios. We discuss modeling and tomographic reconstruction studies for fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy.

Accelerator requirements for fast-neutron interrogation of luggage and cargo

Several different fast-neutron based techniques are being studied for the detection of contraband substances in luggage and cargo containers. The present work discusses the accelerator requirements for fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy (FNTS), pulsed fast-neutron analysis (PFNA), and 14 MeV neutron interrogation. These requirements are based on the results of Monte-Carlo simulations of neutron or gamma detection rates. Accelerator requirements are driven by count-rate considerations, spatial resolution and acceptable uncertainties in elemental compositions. We have limited our analyses to luggage inspection with FNTS and to cargo inspection with PFNA or 14-MeV neutron interrogation.

Illicit substance detection using fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy

Results from analysis of fast-neutron transmission spectra in the interrogation of luggage for illicit substances are quite sensitive to the neutron total cross section data employed. Monte Carlo and analytical techniques are used to explore the uses for such data and to demonstrate the sensitivity of these results to various total cross sections employed in the analysis. The status of total cross section information required for materials commonly found in containers having both illicit and benign substances, with particular attention to the matter of data uncertainties, is considered in the context of the available nuclear data. Deficiencies in the contemporary nuclear data base for this application are indicated and suggestions are offered for new measurements or evaluations.

Key research issues in the pulsed fast-neutron analysis technique for cargo inspection

Non-invasive inspection systems based on the use of fast neutrons are being studied for the inspection of large cargo containers. A key advantage of fast neutrons is their sensitivity to low-Z elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, which are the primary constituents of explosives and narcotics. The high energy allows penetration of relatively large containers. The pulsed fast-neutron analysis (PFNA) technique is currently the baseline system. A workshop on the PFNA technique involving industrial, government, and university participants was held at Argonne National Laboratory in January 1994. The purpose of this workshop was to review the status of research on the key technical issues involved in PFNA, and to develop a list of those areas where additional modeling and/or experimentation were needed. The workshop also focused on development of a near-term experimental assessment program using existing prototypes and on development of a long-term test program at the Tacoma Testbed, where a PFNA prototype will be installed in 1995. A summary of conclusions reached at this workshop is presented. Results from analytic and Monte Carlo modeling of simplified PFNA systems are also presented.

Transport simulation and image reconstruction for fast-neutron detection of explosives and narcotics

Fast-neutron inspection techniques show considerable promise for explosive and narcotics detection. A key advantage of using fast neutron is their sensitivity to low-Z elements (carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen), which are the primary constituents of these materials. We are currently investigating two interrogation methods in detail: fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy (FNTS) and pulsed fast-neutron analysis (PFNA). FNTS is being studied for explosives and narcotics detection in luggage and small containers for which the transmission ration is greater than about 0.01. The Monte Carlo radiation transport code MCNP is being used to simulate neutron transmission through a series of phantoms for a few (3-5) projections angles and modest (2 cm) reolution. Areal densities along projection rays are unfolded from the transmission data. Elemental abundances are obtained for individual voxels by tomographic reconstruction, and the reconstructed elemental images are combined to provide indications of the presence or absence of explosives or narcotics. PFNA techniques are being investigated for detection of narcotics in cargo containers because of the good penetration of the fast neutrons and the low attenuation of the resulting high-energy gamma-ray signatures. Analytic models and Monte Carlo simulations are being used to explore the range of capabilities of PFNA techniques and to provide insight into systems engineering issues. Results of studies from both FNTS and PFNA technqiues are presented.

Comparison of Selected Codes for Calculating Induced Radioactivity at Accelerator Facilities

Abstract Component radioactivation is an important problem in accelerator facilities, impacting operations, maintenance, decommissioning, and disposal. Radionuclide inventories are calculated for an 8-cm-diam, 30.9-cm-long lead target irradiated by 660-MeV protons using the particle transport code MCNPX and the transmutation codes CINDER’90, ORIHET-3, and SP-FISPACT. The results using the various codes and data libraries are compared with experimental measurements. Comparisons are also made between the outputs of the three codes for nuclides not represented in the measurements. For more than half the nuclides studied, the codes agree with the measurements within a factor of 2, and nearly all agree within a factor of 10. The present set of codes and nuclear data files are largely adequate for calculating radioactivation in accelerator facilities, but there is room for substantial improvement for selected radionuclides.

Neutron Activation Data for Neutron Interrogation

Various schemes have been proposed for neutron interrogation of packages, luggage, or containers with the intent of locating concealed contraband items such as conventional explosives, drugs, or restricted special nuclear materials. Relatively intense and energetic neutron sources are usually required in these applications in order to penetrate the scanned objects and to provide unambiguous characteristic signals that are well above background, thereby minimizing both false positives and negatives. Consequently, neutron irradiation of the materials in tested objects during the interrogation process could lead to the production of significant residual radioactivity. This, in turn, might either limit or prevent the application of these methods in those situations where there is a potential for unacceptable public exposure to the induced secondary radiations. The present study aims to identify those particular neutron‐induced reactions that might generate significant activation. This is accomplished by condu...

FIGARO: Detecting nuclear material using high-energy gamma rays from oxygen

Potential diversion of nuclear materials is a major international concern. Fissile (e.g., U, Pu) and other nuclear materials (e.g., D, Be) can be detected using 6-7 MeV gamma rays produced in the {sup 19}F(p,{alpha}{gamma}){sup 16}O reaction. These gamma rays will induce neutron emission via the photoneutron and photofission processes in nuclear materials. However, they are not energetic enough to generate significant numbers of neutrons from most common benign materials, thereby reducing the false alarm rate. Neutrons are counted using an array of BF3 counters in a polyethylene moderator. Experiments have shown a strong increase in neutron count rates for depleted uranium, Be, D{sub 2}O, and {sup 6}Li, and little or no increase for other materials (e.g., H{sub 2}O, SS, Cu, Al, C, {sup 7}Li). Gamma source measurements using solid targets of CaF{sub 2} and MgF{sub 2} and a SF{sub 6} gas target show that proton accelerator of 3 MeV and 10-100 microampere average current could lead to acceptable detection sensitivity.

Fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy for illicit substance detection

Fast-Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy (FNTS) is being investigated for detection of explosives in luggage or other small containers. This technique uses an accelerator to generate nanosecond-pulsed deuteron beams that strike a target, producing a white source of neutrons. Elemental distributions along projections through the interrogated object are obtained by analyzing neutron transmission data. Tomographic reconstruction is used to determine the spatial variations of individual elemental densities are combined in a detection algorithm that indicates the presence or absence of explosives. The elemental unfolding and tomographic reconstruction algorithms have been validated by application to experimental data. System studies have been performed to study the operational characteristics and limitations of a FNTS system, and to determine the systems sensitivity to several important parameters such as flight path length and the position of the interrogated object.

Illicit substance detection using fast-neutron interrogation systems

Fast-neutron interrogation techniques are of interest for detecting illicit substances such as explosives and drugs because of their ability to identify light elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, which are the primary constituents of these materials. Two particular techniques, fast-neutron transmission spectroscopy and pulsed fast-neutron analysis, are discussed. Examples of modeling studies are provided which illustrate the applications of these two techniques.