Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an enclosure with penetrating radiation. Radiation side-scattered from an object within the enclosure is detected, allowing the object to be located. If the object is deemed suspect, a volume element of the suspect object is further irradiated with penetrating radiation, and radiation coherently-scattered by the volume element is detected. The energy spectrum and angular distribution of the coherently-scattered radiation are used to characterize the volume element of the suspect object.

Abstract: A device and method for identifying the composition of a target sample. The target sample may be a matrix such as a metal alloy, a soil sample, or a work of art. The device includes an x-ray fluorescence detector that produces an x-ray signal output in response to the target sample. The device also includes an optical spectroscope that produces an optical signal output in response to the target sample. Further, a processor is included that analyzes and combines the x-ray signal output and the optical signal output to determine the composition of the test material. In one embodiment, the optical spectroscope is a laser induced photon fluorescence detector.

Abstract: An x-ray fluorescence analyzer and method. The analyzer and method use a single radio-active source, such as, 241Am to determine the composition of a metal alloy or precious metal. The method compensates for Rayleigh scattering by first determining a scaling factor using a particular energy line in the spectrum of the test material and comparing that line to the same energy line for a pure metal. Based on the scaling factor the energy spectrum for the pure is compensated and then subtracted from the energy spectrum of the test material at discrete points.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a moving vehicle and for detecting material disposed within the vehicle. The system has a source for providing a generally horizontally pointing beam of penetrating radiation of specified cross-section so as to illuminate vehicles driven alongside the source of radiation. A detector arrangement, disposed between the source of radiation and the moving vehicle detects radiation from the beam scattered by any material disposed on the underside of the moving vehicle and generates a scattered radiation signal that may be used for characterizing the material disposed within the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and methods for non-invasive x-ray inspection of an enclosure in such a manner as to reduce the ambient radiation dose to below a specified level. A beam spectrally filtered to emphasize a high-energy component of penetrating radiation is interleaved, temporally, with a beam dominated by a low-energy component. Thus both lightly loaded and heavily loaded cargo may be inspected while limiting the ambient scattered radiation.

Abstract: An inspection system is for inspecting an object with penetrating radiation. A source of penetrating radiation provides a beam of radiation. The beam alternates between a first beam shape and a second beam shape, the first and second beam shapes being coplanar. A first detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam transmitted through the object and generating a transmitted radiation signal. A second detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam scattered by the object and generating a scattered radiation signal. A processor determines at least one characteristic of the object based at least on the transmitted and scattered radiation signals.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an enclosure. A beam of x-rays is used for scanning the enclosure and for identifying areas of suspect material. The beam is subsequently coherently scattered off suspect materials, during the course of a single pass of the enclosure past the beam, for uniquely discriminating innocuous from contraband substances. One or more energy dispersive detectors measure radiation coherently scattered by an identified volume of suspect material. Absorption effects of the energy distribution of the coherently scattered radiation are compensated by means of a fiducial reference disposed between the interrogated object and the detectors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating a beam of penetrating radiation of specified cross section that raster scans over a two-dimensional area, using a chopper wheel rotated about two axes. The wheel has a set of apertures of which at least one is illuminated to form the beam. Rotary actuators rotate the wheel about an axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel and about an axis not parallel to the axis of rotational symmetry of the wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating electronically steerable beams of sequential penetrating radiation. Charged particles from a source are formed into a beam and accelerated to a target. Electromagnetic radiation generated by the target is emitted with an angular distribution which is a function of the target thickness and the energy of the particles. A beam of particles is produced by allowing the radiation to exit from an apparatus through a collimator proximal to the target. The direction of the beam is determined by the point of radiation production and the corresponding array of transmission regions of the collimator.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining the depth of an object with respect to a surface behind which the object is concealed. The intensity of x-rays backscattered from the object is measured by at least two backscatter detectors disposed at different positions with respect to the scattering object. The depth of a scattering source within the volume penetrated by the x-rays is derived from the ratio of scattered x-rays measured by the detectors.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an object, the system and method comprising a source for generating a penetrating radiation beam for irradiating the object, the beam having, for each instant of time, an instantaneous energy spectrum of intensity, a shaper for modulating the generated beam, thereby creating a shaped beam, the shaper comprising at least a first section and a second section, the first section attenuating the intensity of a portion of the generated beam by a first attenuation factor and the second section attenuating the intensity of another portion of the generated beam by a second attenuation factor, and at least one detector for detecting the shaped beam after the shaped beam interacts with the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating electronically steerable beams of sequential penetrating radiation. Charged particles from a source are formed into a beam and accelerated to a target. Electromagnetic radiation generated by the target is emitted with an angular distribution which is a function of the target thickness and the energy of the particles. A beam of particles is produced by allowing the radiation to exit from an apparatus through a collimator proximal to the target. The direction of the beam is determined by the point of radiation production and the corresponding array of transmission regions of the collimator.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an object with transmitted and/or scattered penetrating radiation using either a fan beam or multiple pencil beams while maintaining resolution comparable to that achievable using a single scannable pencil beam. The system and method provide for spatial resolution of transmitted radiation using a fan beam or multiple pencil beams and a nonsegmented detector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a scanned beam of penetrating radiation. A beam of particles illuminates a portion of a target, the illuminated portion comprising a focal spot having a centroid. Illumination of the target creates a beam of penetrating radiation such as x-rays. The beam of particles is swept across the target in such a manner that the centroid of the focal spot lies on a line defined by the instantaneous direction of the beam of penetrating radiation as defined, in turn, by a collimating path.

Abstract: A system and a method for determining the density of an object. The intensity of x-rays backscattered from the object is measured by at least two backscatter detectors disposed at different distances from the intersection of an incident x-ray beam with the plane of the detectors. At least one of detectors is sensitive only to x-rays that have scattered more than once in the object, the ratio of scattered x-rays measured by the detectors being a function of the density of the scattering medium.

Abstract: A hand holdable inspection device for three-dimensional inspection of a volume distal to a surface. The inspection device has a hand-holdable unit including a source of penetrating radiation for providing a beam of specified cross-section and a detector arrangement for detecting penetrating radiation from the beam scattered by the object in the direction of the detector arrangement and for generating a scattered radiation signal. Additionally, the inspection device has a controller for characterizing the volume based at least on the scattered radiation signal. The detector arrangement includes one or more backscatter detectors that may be disposed asymmetrically with respect to the beam and at differing displacements with respect to the surface.

Abstract: An inspection system is for inspecting an object with penetrating radiation. A source of penetrating radiation provides a beam of radiation. The beam alternates between a first beam shape and a second beam shape, the first and second beam shapes being coplanar. A first detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam transmitted through the object and generating a transmitted radiation signal. A second detector arrangement is for detecting penetrating radiation from a portion of the beam scattered by the object and generating a scattered radiation signal. A processor determines at least one characteristic of the object based at least on the transmitted and scattered radiation signals.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting a vehicle moving at a grade of travel over a surface and for detecting material disposed within or on the underside of the vehicle. The system has a source for providing a generally upward or downward pointing beam of penetrating radiation of specified cross-section so as to illuminate vehicles driven above or below the source of radiation. A detector arrangement, disposed below the grade of travel, detects radiation from the beam scattered by any material disposed on the underside of the moving vehicle and generates a scattered radiation signal that may be used for characterizing the material disposed on the underside of the vehicle. Similarly, a detector arrangement disposed above the vehicle generates a scattered radiation signal that may be used for characterizing the material disposed within the vehicle.

Abstract: A system and method for inspecting an object, where both a fan beam and a pencil beam of penetrating radiation are used to illuminating the object concurrently. Both beams may be derived from a single source of penetrating radiation. The pencil beam is noncoplanar with the fan beam and may be scanned with respect to the object. Radiation scattered from the pencil beam within the object is detected, and the scatter signal thus generated is used in conjunction with a transmission signal which characterizes attenuation of the fan beam by the object.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for obtaining the density distributions of three-dimensional elements that compose objects or groups of objects, by examining the objects with beams of x-rays or gamma radiation that are transmitted through the object in a plurality of approximately parallel paths and measuring the intensity of the radiation, scattered approximately perpendicular to the parallel paths, in arrays of detectors around the object. The energy of the x-rays or gamma rays is such that dominant interaction in the object is Compton scattering. The density of each element is determined from the totality of measurements by standard mathematical tomographic or relaxation techniques of data manipulation.