Abstract: Embodiments are provided to facilitate X-ray backscatter imaging of equipment that is covered by insulation or other materials that it is undesirable to remove and/or that is difficult to access (e.g., due to distance from the ground and/or catwalks or other support structures). These embodiments include improved collimators or other elements to facilitate scanning of the X-ray beam in at least one direction while also maintaining a low size, weight, and power (SWaP). These embodiments also include improved detectors to more readily allow improved X-ray backscatter images and material composition (including detection of the presence of oxides or other evidence or corrosion or degradation) to be detected, even in SWaP-limited applications like remote vessel inspection.

Abstract: An imaging system for inspecting multiple objects includes an x-ray source having a beam width greater than or equal to a threshold beam size. The multiple objects is irradiated by the x-ray source in respective controlled inspection positions. A detection mechanism is adapted to acquire respective images of the multiple objects in the respective controlled inspection positions. The detection mechanism includes one or more detectors arranged circumferentially around a central axis. At least one positioning mechanism is adapted to move the multiple objects into and out of the respective controlled inspection positions.

Abstract: An x-ray system, comprising: a backscatter detector, comprising: an x-ray conversion material; a plurality of sensors configured to generate electrical signals in combination with the x-ray conversion material in response to incident x-rays; and a collimator disposed on the x-ray conversion material and including a plurality of partitions extending away from the x-ray conversion material and the sensors and forming a plurality of openings, each opening corresponding to one of the sensors.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.

Abstract: Technology is described to uniformly apply doses of radiation to a target material. An irradiation device may comprise an enclosure configured to receive a target material and a source configured to emit primary radiation within the enclosure. The primary radiation may be configured to irradiate at least a first portion of the target material. The irradiation device may further comprise a scattering medium disposed within the enclosure. The scattering medium may be configured to produce secondary radiation through scatter interactions in response to the primary radiation, the secondary radiation configured to irradiate at least a second portion of the target material. A thickness of the scattering medium relative to the primary radiation may have a thickness of at least 3 millimeters).

Abstract: An imaging system for inspecting multiple objects includes an x-ray source having a beam width greater than or equal to a threshold beam size. The multiple objects is irradiated by the x-ray source in respective controlled inspection positions. A detection mechanism is adapted to acquire respective images of the multiple objects in the respective controlled inspection positions. The detection mechanism includes one or more detectors arranged circumferentially around a central axis. At least one positioning mechanism is adapted to move the multiple objects into and out of the respective controlled inspection positions.

Abstract: An x-ray system, comprising: a backscatter detector, comprising: an x-ray conversion material; a plurality of sensors configured to generate electrical signals in combination with the x-ray conversion material in response to incident x-rays; and a collimator disposed on the x-ray conversion material and including a plurality of partitions extending away from the x-ray conversion material and the sensors and forming a plurality of openings, each opening corresponding to one of the sensors.

Abstract: Technology is described to uniformly apply doses of radiation to a target material. An irradiation device may comprise an enclosure configured to receive a target material and a source configured to emit primary radiation within the enclosure. The primary radiation may be configured to irradiate at least a first portion of the target material. The irradiation device may further comprise a scattering medium disposed within the enclosure. The scattering medium may be configured to produce secondary radiation through scatter interactions in response to the primary radiation, the secondary radiation configured to irradiate at least a second portion of the target material. A thickness of the scattering medium relative to the primary radiation may have a thickness of at least 3 millimeters).

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a scintillator layer; and an array of photodiode elements; wherein the scintillator layer is configured to receive radiation that has passed through the array of photodiode elements. An imaging device includes: a scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements configured to convert radiation into photons; and an array of photodiode elements configured to receive photons from the scintillator layer, and generate electrical signals in response to the received photons; wherein at least two of the scintillator elements are separated by an air gap. An imaging device includes: a first scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in a first plane; and a second scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in a second plane; wherein the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer are arranged next to each other and form a non-zero angle relative to each other.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: A system operable for detecting radiation to scan an object includes scintillators that have respective lengths that are greater than their respective widths and an imager that has a planar array of pixels. The scintillators are coupled to the imager with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to each other. An incoming radiation beam that has passed through the object enters the scintillators through respective surfaces of the scintillators that are transverse to the longitudinal axes, and is converted by the scintillators into light that is received by respective subsets of the planar array of pixels.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: A method of making pixelated scintillator arrays employs a first jig comprising a plurality of recesses and a second jig comprising a plurality of recesses. A plurality of or N scintillator pixels are placed in a plurality of or N recesses of the first jig. The N scintillator pixels have a shape such that a portion of each of the N scintillator pixels is conformably received in one of the N recesses of the first jig, e.g. a portion of each of the N scintillator pixels is received in and conforms to the shape of one of the N recesses. The remaining portion of each of the N scintillator pixels protrudes out from the recess, forming N protrusions substantially conforming to the shape of the recesses of the second jig. An adhesive layer is applied on the N protrusions of the N scintillator pixels. A reflective layer is placed over the N protrusions of the N scintillator pixels.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, an amorphous scintillator material in a molten state is pressed into a plurality of cavities defined by a plurality of walls of a mesh array. The molten scintillator material in the plurality of cavities is cooled to form a pixelated scintillator array. An x-ray imager including a pixelated scintillator is also described.

Abstract: A system operable for detecting radiation to scan an object includes scintillators that have respective lengths that are greater than their respective widths and an imager that has a planar array of pixels. The scintillators are coupled to the imager with their respective longitudinal axes parallel to each other. An incoming radiation beam that has passed through the object enters the scintillators through respective surfaces of the scintillators that are transverse to the longitudinal axes, and is converted by the scintillators into light that is received by respective subsets of the planar array of pixels.

Abstract: In a method of making pixelated scintillators, a block of an amorphous scintillator material is divided into plural sections. The plural sections of the block are rejoined with plural first reflective septa to form an assembly. In the assembly, each of the plural first reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the block. The assembly is then divided into plural sections in a way such that each of the plural sections of the block is divided into plural pixels. The plural sections of the assembly are rejoined with plural second reflective septa. Each of the plural second reflective septa separates two adjacent sections of the assembly, forming an array comprising plural rows and columns of pixels of the amorphous scintillator material. In the array, each pixel is separated from adjacent pixels by a portion of at least one of the plural first reflective septa and at least one of the second reflective septa.

Abstract: A method of making pixelated scintillator arrays employs a first jig comprising a plurality of recesses and a second jig comprising a plurality of recesses. A plurality of or N scintillator pixels are placed in a plurality of or N recesses of the first jig. The N scintillator pixels have a shape such that a portion of each of the N scintillator pixels is conformably received in one of the N recesses of the first jig, e.g. a portion of each of the N scintillator pixels is received in and conforms to the shape of one of the N recesses. The remaining portion of each of the N scintillator pixels protrudes out from the recess, forming N protrusions substantially conforming to the shape of the recesses of the second jig. An adhesive layer is applied on the N protrusions of the N scintillator pixels. A reflective layer is placed over the N protrusions of the N scintillator pixels.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a scintillator layer; and an array of photodiode elements; wherein the scintillator layer is configured to receive radiation that has passed through the array of photodiode elements. An imaging device includes: a scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements configured to convert radiation into photons; and an array of photodiode elements configured to receive photons from the scintillator layer, and generate electrical signals in response to the received photons; wherein at least two of the scintillator elements are separated by an air gap. An imaging device includes: a first scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in a first plane; and a second scintillator layer having a plurality of scintillator elements arranged in a second plane; wherein the first scintillator layer and the second scintillator layer are arranged next to each other and form a non-zero angle relative to each other.