Title :
Monte Carlo analysis of pulse neutron based cargo interrogation system
Author :
Barzilov, Alexander P. ; Novikov, Ivan ; Cooper, Brian
Author_Institution :
Appl. Phys. Inst., Western Kentucky Univ., Bowling Green, KY, USA
Abstract :
The nondestructive method to detect explosive and chemical threats hidden in a cargo is based on determination of its bulk isotopic content under the fast neutron irradiation using the neutron-induced fingerprint photons. The computational analysis of nuclear processes in the active interrogation system consisting of a 14-MeV pulse neutron generator, neutron and photon detectors, and a cargo truck was carried out. The system´s geometry, material composition of the cargo, and the mass of TNT and HD objects hidden in the cargo were varied to study the time structure of the interrogating neutron flux and energy distributions of neutron and gamma-ray flux in the detectors. The results of the Monte Carlo analysis are discussed.
Keywords :
Monte Carlo methods; chemical hazards; explosives; freight handling; goods distribution; national security; neutron detection; neutron flux; nondestructive testing; HD object detection; Monte Carlo analysis; TNT; bulk isotopic content determination; cargo truck; computational analysis; electron volt energy 14 MeV; explosive detection; fast neutron irradiation; gamma-ray flux; hidden chemical threats detection; neutron detector; neutron flux; neutron-induced fingerprint photons; nondestructive method; nuclear process; photon detector; pulse neutron based cargo interrogation system; pulse neutron generator; Chemical elements; Detectors; Explosives; Fingerprint recognition; Geometry; Monte Carlo methods; Neutrons; Nuclear power generation; Optical computing; Pulse generation;
Conference_Titel :
Technologies for Homeland Security, 2009. HST '09. IEEE Conference on
Conference_Location :
Boston, MA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-4178-5
DOI :
10.1109/THS.2009.5168104
