Research and Development of the Humanitarian Landmine Detection System by a Compact Fusion Neutron Source

Author

Yoshikawa, Kiyoshi ; Masuda, Kai ; Takamatsu, Teruhisa ; Yamamoto, Yasushi ; Toku, Hisayuki ; Fujimoto, Takeshi ; Hotta, Eiki ; Yamauchi, Kunihito ; Ohnishi, Masami ; Osawa, Hodaka ; Shiroya, Seiji ; Misawa, Tsuyoshi ; Takahashi, Yoshiyuki ; Kubo, Yoshika

Author_Institution

Supporting Office of Planning for Res. Promotion, Kyoto Univ., Kyoto, Japan

Volume

56

Issue

3

fYear

2009

fDate

6/1/2009 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1193

Lastpage

1202

Abstract

A 5 year task is described on the research and development of the advanced humanitarian landmine detection system by using a compact discharge-type fusion neutron source called IECF (Inertial-Electrostatic Confinement fusion) device and 3 dual sensors made of BGO and NaI. With 10⁷ D-D neutrons/s stably produced in steady-state mode, H-2.2 MeV, N-5.3, 10.8 MeV, gamma rays from (n, gamma) reaction with nitrogen atoms in the explosives are measured for two kinds of explosives (TNT, RDX), under the conditions of three different buried depths, and soil moistures. Final detection probabilities for arid soil are found to be 100 % in the present tests, i.e., depths not exceeding 15 cm, moisture content of 18.5 % or less, and 20-minute measurements. The neutron backscattering method is found also excellent.

Keywords

chemical sensors; explosives; gamma-ray detection; landmine detection; neutron detection; neutron diffraction; neutron sources; nuclear chemical analysis; plasma inertial confinement; solid scintillation detectors; IECF device; discharge-type fusion neutron source; explosives; humanitarian landmine detection system; inertial-electrostatic confinement fusion device; neutron backscattering method; time 20 min; Atomic measurements; Explosives; Inertial confinement; Landmine detection; Moisture measurement; Neutrons; Research and development; Sensor fusion; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Soil measurements;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2008.2009118

Filename

5076021