Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring, in a non-invasive manner, the individual mass of objects in containers by means of x-ray transmission radiography in which a beam of penetrating radiation is sent through the container and the transmitted intensity for those photons that interact dominantly via the Compton effect are measured. The masses of the objects in the container are measured with respect to the mass of known objects determined in independent or concurrent measurements.

Abstract: An inspection system for inspecting an enclosure and its contents using temporally gated sources of penetrating radiation. A first source produces an intermittent first beam having a duration of inactivity while a second sources produces a second beam, which may have an energy spectrum differing from that of the first beam, during the inactivity of the first beam. One detector generates a transmission signal based on penetrating radiation transmitted through the enclosure while a scatter detector generates a scatter signal based on penetrating radiation scattered by the contents of the enclosure. The scatter detector may be gated for non-detection during the pulsing of the transmission beam. A processor derives properties of the contents of the enclosure on the basis of the transmission signal and the scatter signal.

Abstract: A tomography system for analyzing an object concealed within an enveloping surface. The system has multiple beams of penetrating radiation, each beam disposed with a distinct orientation with respect to the enveloping surface. Detectors are provided for measuring radiation backscattered by the contents of the enveloping surface and for measuring radiation transmitted through the enveloping surface. The enveloping surface is moved with respect to the multiple beams, and a timer provides for measurement of a time difference between the appearance of features in signals of respective detectors, allowing geometrical characteristics of the features to be determined and displayed.

Abstract: A method for modulating the intensity of an x-ray beam in an x-ray inspection system so as to maintain the highest penetration power and optimum image quality subject to keeping the ambient radiation generated by the x-rays below a specified standard.

Abstract: An x-ray tomography system measures x-rays side-scattered by material concealed within an enveloping surface. One or more x-ray beams are incident on the enveloping surface and scattered onto collimated detectors disposed in arrays parallel to the incident x-ray beams. By varying the relative orientation of the enveloping surface with respect to the x-ray beams and measuring the x-rays side-scattered by the material concealed within the enveloping surface, the shape, density, position and composition of the contents of the enveloping surface may be mapped.

Abstract: An inspection system for automatically detecting the presence of a concealed item within an enclosure. A beam of penetrating radiation is incident on the enclosure and detected by a detector disposed on the side of the enclosure opposite to the incident beam. By scanning the relative orientation of the enclosure with respect to the beam, the penetrating radiation transmitted through the enclosure is mapped, compared with known properties of the enclosure, and the presence of material concealed within the enclosure is determined.

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.

Abstract: A new type of x-ray fluorescence detector is disclosed that utilizes the measured intensities of fluorescent L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. x-rays, or K.sub..alpha. and K.sub..beta. x-rays of a target element, to determine the absorption of the covering layer over the target element, without a priori knowledge of the concentration of the target element. The detector uses a source of initiating photons whose energy is in a specific range, a detector of the characteristic lead L or K x-rays with sufficient energy resolution to measure the intensities of the L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. rays separately. The detector will, in a rapid, non-destructive manner, provide information as to the depth that the lead paint is beneath the surface. This information is of use to those who mitigate a lead-paint infested area.

Abstract: A new type of x-ray fluorescence detector is disclosed that utilizes the measured intensities of fluorescent L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. x-rays, or K.sub..alpha. and K.sub..beta. x-rays of a target element, to determine the absolute concentration of the target element, independent of either the thickness or the nature of covering layers over the target element. The detector uses a source of initiating photons whose energy is in a specific range, a detector of the characteristic lead L or K x-rays with sufficient energy resolution to measure the intensities of the L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. rays separately, or K.sub..alpha. and K.sub..beta. x-ray separately, a signal processor, and an appropriate read-out. The detector will improve the rapidity and accuracy of measurements, especially that of lead in paint and in bone, in a very cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A new type of X-ray fluorescence detector of lead paint is disclosed that utilizes the measured intensities of fluorescent L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. x-ray lines of lead to determine the absolute concentration of lead in mg/cm.sup.2, independent of either the thickness or the nature of the covering layers non-lead paint. The lead-paint detector uses a source of initiating photons whose energy is in a specific range, a detector of the characteristic lead L x-rays with sufficient energy resolution to detect the L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. rays separately, a signal processor, and an appropriate read-out. The lead-paint detector will improve the rapidity and accuracy of lead paint measurements in a very cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A new type of X-ray fluorescence detector of lead paint that utilizes the measured intensities of fluorescent L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. x-ray lines of lead to determine the absolute concentration of lead in mg/cm.sup.2, independent of either the thickness or the nature of the covering layers non-lead paint. The lead-paint detector uses a source of initiating photons whose energy is in a specific range, a detector of the characteristic lead L x-rays with sufficient energy resolution to detect the L.sub..alpha. and L.sub..beta. rays separately, a signal processor, and an appropriate read-out. The lead-paint detector will improve the rapidity and accuracy of lead paint measurements in a very cost-effective manner.

Abstract: Generating nuclear resonance-produced gamma rays of .sup.14 N, .sup.16 O (and C1) for scanning objects such as luggage that may contain explosives of nitrogen-oxygen (-chorine) constituents, and detecting such by Resonance Absorption Analysis (RAA) techniques, and with increased yield of gamma ray generation with novel resonance targets, thin layer and gaseous, particularly of the resonance gamma rays of .sup.14 N.

Abstract: Detection and quantitative measurement of the radioactive isotope of .sup.222 Rn, as encountered in air in habitats is accomplished in a passive detection system in which the radon at the test site is adsorbed into an adsorbent, e.g. activated charcoal, held in a vial made especially for liquid scintillation counting, and the radon is subsequently desorbed into a liquid scintillation desorbent placed in the same vial and the counting of the radon activity in the vial is accomplished by liquid scintillation techniques.

Abstract: A magnetic scanning technique for sweeping an ion beam across an implantation target, such as a semiconductor wafer, by means of modulating the energy of a beam and directing it through an analyzer magnet, which effects a scanning motion of the beam of constant intensity, the wave form for the modulation being selected to take into account that the areal density of the ions in the scanned beam varies dependently with the amount of displacement of the beam from a reference point. An ion scan can be obtained in which the ions travel in parallel paths and enter the target at a constant desired angle throughout the scan. The technique is applicable to targets held stationary or rotated during implant. By employing predetermined modulation wave forms which are adapted to other parameters of the selected system, a desired scan distribution of ions can be obtained, for instance a uniform distribution in X and Y directions.