Patents by Inventor Mark S. Rowland
Mark S. Rowland has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 8155258Abstract: A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Neal J. Snyderman
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Publication number: 20110176648Abstract: A portable neutron generator includes a Radio Frequency Quadrupole linear accelerator designed to accelerate charged particles of hydrogen (protons) to energies useful for producing neutrons with the (p,n) reaction on lithium. The ion source is driven by a coaxial feed and a spiral antenna to couple the microwave power into the plasma. The linear accelerator is driven by a 600 MHz pulsed RF power supply. A differential pumping scheme is used to balance the need for a high gas load on the ion source end and good vacuum on the accelerator end.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2010Publication date: July 21, 2011Inventors: Mark S. Rowland, Wolfgang Stoeffi, Robert Wray Hamm
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Publication number: 20100332145Abstract: A neutron detector system for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. The system includes a graphing component that displays the plot of the neutron distribution from the unknown source over a Poisson distribution and a plot of neutrons due to background or environmental sources. The system further includes a known neutron source placed in proximity to the unknown source to actively interrogate the unknown source in order to accentuate differences in neutron emission from the unknown source from Poisson distributions and/or environmental sources.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Neal J. Snyderman
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Publication number: 20100215138Abstract: A neutron detector system and method for discriminating fissile material from non-fissile material wherein a digital data acquisition unit collects data at high rate, and in real-time processes large volumes of data directly into information that a first responder can use to discriminate materials. The system comprises counting neutrons from the unknown source and detecting excess grouped neutrons to identify fission in the unknown source. Comparison of the observed neutron count distribution with a Poisson distribution is performed to distinguish fissile material from non-fissile material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Inventors: Mark S. Rowland, Neal J. Snyderman
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Patent number: 7756237Abstract: A method of absolute nuclear material assay of an unknown source comprising counting neutrons from the unknown source and providing an absolute nuclear material assay utilizing a model to optimally compare to the measured count distributions. In one embodiment, the step of providing an absolute nuclear material assay comprises utilizing a random sampling of analytically computed fission chain distributions to generate a continuous time-evolving sequence of event-counts by spreading the fission chain distribution in time.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2005Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Manoj K. Prasad, Neal J. Snyderman, Mark S. Rowland
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Patent number: 7755015Abstract: A neutron multi-detector array feeds pulses in parallel to individual inputs that are tied to individual bits in a digital word. Data is collected by loading a word at the individual bit level in parallel. The word is read at regular intervals, all bits simultaneously, to minimize latency. The electronics then pass the word to a number of storage locations for subsequent processing, thereby removing the front-end problem of pulse pileup.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Raymond A. Alvarez
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Publication number: 20090114835Abstract: A method of absolute nuclear material assay of an unknown source comprising counting neutrons from the unknown source and providing an absolute nuclear material assay utilizing a model to optimally compare to the measured count distributions. In one embodiment, the step of providing an absolute nuclear material assay comprises utilizing a random sampling of analytically computed fission chain distributions to generate a continuous time-evolving sequence of event-counts by spreading the fission chain distribution in time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Manoj K. Prasad, Neal J. Snyderman, Mark S. Rowland
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Publication number: 20080205580Abstract: A neutron multi-detector array feeds pulses in parallel to individual inputs that are tied to individual bits in a digital word. Data is collected by loading a word at the individual bit level in parallel. The word is read at regular intervals, all bits simultaneously, to minimize latency. The electronics then pass the word to a number of storage locations for subsequent processing, thereby removing the front-end problem of pulse pileup.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: August 28, 2008Inventors: Mark S. Rowland, Raymond A. Alvarez
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Patent number: 7339172Abstract: A Compton scattered gamma-ray detector system. The system comprises a gamma-ray spectrometer and an annular array of individual scintillators. The scintillators are positioned so that they are arrayed around the gamma-ray spectrometer. The annular array of individual scintillators includes a first scintillator. A radiation shield is positioned around the first scintillator. A multi-channel analyzer is operatively connected to the gamma-ray spectrometer and the annular array of individual scintillators.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2006Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLCInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Mark E. Oldaker
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Patent number: 7285784Abstract: A real-time method and computer system for identifying radioactive materials which collects gamma count rates from a HPGe gamma-radiation detector to produce a high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum. A library of nuclear material definitions (“library definitions”) is provided, with each uniquely associated with a nuclide or isotope material and each comprising at least one logic condition associated with a spectral parameter of a gamma-ray energy spectrum. The method determines whether the spectral parameters of said high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum satisfy all the logic conditions of any one of the library definitions, and subsequently uniquely identifies the material type as that nuclide or isotope material associated with the satisfied library definition. The method is iteratively repeated to update the spectrum and identification in real time.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2004Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Douglas E. Howard, James L. Wong, James L. Jessup, Greg M. Bianchini, Wayne O. Miller
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Patent number: 7064337Abstract: A portable gamma ray detection apparatus having a gamma ray detector encapsulated by a compact isolation structure having at least two volumetrically-nested enclosures where at least one is a thermal shield. The enclosures are suspension-mounted to each other to successively encapsulate the detector without structural penetrations through the thermal shields. A low power cooler is also provided capable of cooling the detector to cryogenic temperatures without consuming cryogens, due to the heat load reduction by the isolation structure and the reduction in the power requirements of the cooler. The apparatus also includes a lightweight portable power source for supplying power to the apparatus, including to the cooler and the processing means, and reducing the weight of the apparatus to enable handheld operation or toting on a user's person.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Douglas E. Howard, James L. Wong, James L. Jessup, Greg M. Bianchini, Wayne O. Miller
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Publication number: 20040217296Abstract: A portable gamma ray detection apparatus having a gamma ray detector encapsulated by a compact isolation structure having at least two volumetrically-nested enclosures where at least one is a thermal shield. The enclosures are suspension-mounted to each other to successively encapsulate the detector without structural penetrations through the thermal shields. A low power cooler is also provided capable of cooling the detector to cryogenic temperatures without consuming cryogens, due to the heat load reduction by the isolation structure and the reduction in the power requirements of the cooler. The apparatus also includes a lightweight portable power source for supplying power to the apparatus, including to the cooler and the processing means, and reducing the weight of the apparatus to enable handheld operation or toting on a user's person.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2003Publication date: November 4, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Douglas E. Howard, James L. Wong, James L. Jessup, Greg M. Bianchini, Wayne O. Miller
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Publication number: 20040195517Abstract: A real-time method and computer system for identifying radioactive materials which collects gamma count rates from a HPGe gamma-radiation detector to produce a high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum. A library of nuclear material definitions (“library definitions”) is provided, with each uniquely associated with a nuclide or isotope material and each comprising at least one logic condition associated with a spectral parameter of a gamma-ray energy spectrum. The method determines whether the spectral parameters of said high-resolution gamma-ray energy spectrum satisfy all the logic conditions of any one of the library definitions, and subsequently uniquely identifies the material type as that nuclide or isotope material associated with the satisfied library definition. The method is iteratively repeated to update the spectrum and identification in real time.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2004Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: Mark S. Rowland, Douglas E. Howard, James L. Wong, James L. Jessup, Greg M. Bianchini, Wayne O. Miller
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Patent number: 4814623Abstract: A pulsed neutron detector and system for detecting low intensity fast neutron pulses has a body of beryllium adjacent a body of hydrogenous material the latter of which acts as a beta particle detector, scintillator, and moderator. The fast neutrons (defined as having En>1.5 MeV) react in the beryllium and the hydrogenous material to produce larger numbers of slow neutrons than would be generated in the beryllium itself and which in the beryllium generate hellium-6 which decays and yields beta particles. The beta particles reach the hydrogenous material which scintillates to yield light of intensity related to the number of fast neutrons. A photomultiplier adjacent the hydrogenous material (scintillator) senses the light emission from the scintillator. Utilization means, such as a summing device, sums the pulses from the photo-multiplier for monitoring or other purposes.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 1987Date of Patent: March 21, 1989Assignee: University of New MexicoInventors: J. Craig Robertson, deceased, Mark S. Rowland