Abstract: A method and system are provided for non-destructively evaluating a workpiece hidden by an overlying structure. In the context of a method, a workpiece is interrogated with radiation, such as x-ray radiation, that also propagates through the overlying structure. The method further includes collecting data representative of radiation backscattered from the workpiece. Based upon a thickness and material of the overlying structure, the method compares the data that has been collected from the workpiece with reference data representative of radiation backscattered from a standard that includes different respective material loss indicators hidden by an overlying structure of the same thickness and material. Each material loss indicator is a physical representation of a different amount of material loss. As a result of the comparison, the method estimates the material loss of the workpiece.

Abstract: A neutron scintillator includes a resin composition having a resin and an inorganic phosphor containing at least one kind of neutron-capturing isotope that is selected from lithium 6 and boron 10 such as Eu:LiCaAlF6. The resin composition contains 0.2-30×1018 atom/mm3 of lithium 6 and 0.05-8×1018 atom/mm3 of boron 10 and is in such a form that the average diameter of inscribed spheres is 5 mm or less. A neutron scintillator is formed of a resin-based composite having a plurality of parts formed of the aforesaid resin composition and supplementing part(s), in which the content of the neutron-capturing isotope is not more than ½ of the content of the neutron-capturing isotope in the resin composition. The ratio of the distance between the centers of inscribed spheres in the individual parts formed of the resin composition to the sum of the diameters of the inscribed spheres therein is 1.2 or greater.

Abstract: A radiation detection apparatus can include a scintillator, a photosensor optically coupled to the scintillator, and a control module electrically coupled to the photosensor. The control module can be configured to receive a pulse from the photosensor and identify a cause of noise corresponding to the pulse. Such information can be useful in determining failure modes and potentially predict future failures of radiation detection apparatuses. In another embodiment, the wavelet discrimination can be used to determine whether or not the pulse corresponds to a scintillation pulse, and potentially to identify a type of radiation or a radiation source. The technique is robust to work over a variety of temperatures, and particularly, at temperatures significantly higher than room temperature.

Abstract: A positioner arm for positioning an imaging material, an imaging material holder, an aiming device or a combination thereof is disclosed that includes at least one positioning arm having a first end and a second end, wherein each arm comprises at least two fixed arm angles and wherein at least one angle is not a 90 degree angle.

Abstract: A microcrystal structure analysis apparatus includes: a magnetic field generation unit; a sample drive unit configured to rotate a sample container containing a sample having microcrystals suspended therein relative to the magnetic field generation unit such that a temporally varying magnetic field is applied to the sample container to three-dimensionally orient the microcrystals; an X-ray source configured to apply X rays to the sample container that is being rotated by the sample drive unit; an X-ray detection unit capable of detecting the X rays that have passed through and have been diffracted by the sample container; and a state switching device configured to cause a state where detection of the X rays by the X-ray detection unit is disenabled or a state where detection of the X rays by the X-ray detection unit is enabled, in accordance with a rotational position of a specific part which is a part of the sample container in a rotation direction thereof.

Abstract: A system and method for non-invasively tracking a particle in a sample is disclosed. The system includes a 2-photon or confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM) and a particle-holding device coupled to a stage with X-Y and Z position control. The system also includes a tracking module having a tracking excitation laser, X-Y and Z radiation-gathering components configured to detect deviations of the particle in an X-Y and Z directions. The system also includes a processor coupled to the X-Y and Z radiation gathering components, generate control signals configured to drive the stage X-Y and Z position controls to track the movement of the particle. The system may also include a synchronization module configured to generate LSM pixels stamped with stage position and a processing module configured to generate a 3D image showing the 3D trajectory of a particle using the LSM pixels stamped with stage position.

Abstract: A circuit having a buffered direct injection (BDI) module is provided for image lag mitigation. The BDI module includes an optical detector coupled to a buffer. The buffer has a pixel amplifier which includes no more than two transistors. The BDI module includes a first current mirror coupled to the BDI module. The first current mirror generates a modulating current based on the output of the optical detector. The BDI module further includes a second current mirror coupled to the first current mirror. The second current mirror is configured to generate either an amplified or attenuated photocurrent operable to optimize an imaging time and scene brightness of the optical detector. The BDI module further includes a reset circuit, coupled to the second current mirror, and being configured to reset an integration capacitor which integrates an image signal based on the output of the optical detector.

Abstract: Terahertz imaging devices may comprise a focal plane array including a substrate and a plurality of resonance elements. The plurality of resonance elements may comprise a conductive material coupled to the substrate. Each resonance element of the plurality of resonance elements may be configured to resonate and produce an output signal responsive to incident radiation having a frequency between about a 0.1 THz and 4 THz range. A method of detecting a hazardous material may comprise receiving incident radiation by a focal plane array having a plurality of discrete pixels including a resonance element configured to absorb the incident radiation at a resonant frequency in the THz, generating an output signal from each of the discrete pixels, and determining a presence of a hazardous material by interpreting spectral information from the output signal.

Abstract: In systems and methods for analyzing traces of airborne compounds, the air to be analyzed is circulated for a given length of time through a small-diameter analysis tube while lowering the temperature of the air at the entrance to the analysis tube. Condensation and deposits of compounds are formed on the inner walls of the analysis tube. A scraping liquid is circulated through the analysis tube to scrape off the deposits. The compounds in the deposits are concentrated at the front of this liquid. The front of the liquid is then analyzed to identify the compounds.

Abstract: For boosting/blanking the filament current of a cathode of an X-ray tube the temporal variation of the tube current of the X-ray tube is measured and stored in a first memory. Then an iterative boosting/blanking is performed wherein the boosting/blanking current is applied to the filament for a short time interval (?t), based on the stored temporal variation of the tube current the tube current after the short time interval (?T) is determined, and the tube current is stored in a second memory. Based on the stored temporal variation of the tube current it is determined if the tube current (IE) is less than a target value (IE2) thereof, and if so, the boosting/blanking current is applied to the filament for an additional time interval (?t), else it is determined that the tube current (IE) is equal to the target value (IE2).

Abstract: A correlative evaluation of a sample using an x-ray computed tomography (CT) x-ray fluorescence (XRF) system and the method for analyzing a sample using x-ray CT and XRF is disclosed. The CT/XRF system includes an x-ray CT subsystem for acquisition of volume information and a confocal XRF subsystem for acquisition of elemental composition information. The CT/XRF system also includes a controller for managing the acquisitions by the x-ray CT subsystem and confocal XRF subsystem. Combining sub-micrometer spatial resolution 3-D imaging with elemental composition analysis in 3-D with ppm level sensitivity is important to elemental identification of precious metal grains in crushed and ground ores and floatation tailings in the mining industry.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing a device for detecting a biological signature behind a glass surface using non-visible light is provided. A method of emitting one or more pulses of energy at a specific wavelength over a field of illumination towards a target area, filtering out one or more returning wavelengths from the target area, and determining, based on the filtering, if a combination of a fluorescence wavelength and a source wavelength is present, is also provided. An associated system is further provided.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an optical molecular sensing device and related method. The optical molecular sensing device has an optical resonator adapted to be connected to an excitation source. The excitation source may be a laser operating at a 2.7-2.8 um spectral range. The optical molecular sensing device has an emission spectrum comprised of a plurality wavelengths. Also included are a detection unit and a RF frequency counter to detect at least one RF beat note resulting from detecting the emission spectrum of the optical resonator. A change in frequency of the RF beat note indicates the presence of a target molecule.

Abstract: A bolometric detector includes a substrate; bolometric detection microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermally insulated from the substrate; bolometric compensation microbridges suspended above the substrate and thermalized to the substrate; and a read circuit formed in the substrate to apply a biasing to the detection microbridges and to the compensation microbridges and to form differences between signals generated by detection microbridges and signals generated by compensation microbridges under the effect of the applied biasing. Each detection microbridge and each compensation microbridge includes electrically-conductive anchoring nails connected to the read circuit, a membrane attached to the anchoring nails above the substrate, and a thermometric element arranged in the membrane. The detector further includes thermal short-circuit elements between the membrane of each compensation microbridge and the substrate.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an X-ray imaging apparatus includes an X-ray image acquisition part, a control system and a display processing part. The X-ray image acquisition part is configured to acquire X-ray image data of an object using at least one imaging system. The control system is configured to control the imaging system to acquire frames of X-ray image data corresponding to mutually different directions by moving the imaging system. At least one of the frames of the X-ray image data are acquired during a movement of the imaging system. The display processing part is configured to generate stereoscopically visible image data based on the frames of the X-ray image data.

Abstract: Photodetector devices and methods for making the photodetector devices are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the device may include a substrate; and one or more core structures, each having one or more shell layers disposed at least on a portion of a sidewall of the core structure. Each of the one or more structures extends substantially perpendicularly from the substrate. Each of the one or more core structures and the one or more shell layers form a Schottky barrier junction or a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MiS) junction.

Abstract: A method for the determination of the delay time of a radiographic generator and to the setting of a standard value for such delay time. According to the method it is determined by a series of decreasing chosen values for the delay time whether a signal for the confirmation of the start of the radiographic exposure is rendered by the radiographic generator. The last value of the chosen delay time whereby still such a confirmation signal is rendered, is retained as standard operational value for the delay time of the radiographic system.

Abstract: A method for well logging includes emitting a plurality of bursts of high energy neutrons into a wellbore and formations surrounding the wellbore. During and for a selected duration after at least one of the plurality of bursts, gamma rays are detected at at least one location spaced apart from the emitting and characterizing an energy of the detected gamma rays. After the last burst, gamma rays are detected and energy spectrum and rates of detection with respect to time thereof are determined. The foregoing is repeated for a selected number of times. After the selected number of times background gamma rays are measured. At least one of the numbers of detected gamma rays during a selected time interval and an energy spectrum of the detected gamma rays during the selected time interval is used to determine selected formation properties.

Abstract: A radiation generator includes at least three extractor electrodes, with an ion source upstream of the at least three extractor electrodes to emit ions in a downstream direction toward the at least three extractor electrodes. There is a target downstream of the at least three extractor electrodes. The at least three extractor electrodes have independently selectable potentials so as to allow direction of an ion beam, formed from the ions, by the independently selectable potentials, toward different longitudinal and lateral regions of the target.

Abstract: A radiation detector is disclosed, including a plurality of detector elements arranged adjacent to one another in a planar manner. In an embodiment, for the purpose of radiation detection, a semiconductor layer with an upper side and a lower side is present, the semiconductor layer on one of the sides including an electrode embodied so as to extend across a number of detector elements and electrodes subdivided into individual electrodes being arranged on the other side of the semiconductor layer so that by applying voltage between the electrodes of the two sides, an electrical field is generatable and each individual electrode is assigned an effective volume so as to collect charge in the semiconductor layer. In an embodiment, the individual electrodes are alternately connected to at least two different voltage potentials. Furthermore, a medical diagnostic system is disclosed, including at least one such radiation detector.