Photonuclear Technology for Hidden Explosive Detection

Abstract

The photonuclear technology for explosive detection is based on the recording of the decays of short-lived ¹²B and ¹²N isotopes. These radionuclides are formed in reactions on ¹⁴N and ¹³C nuclei under effect of irradiation by high-energy gamma quanta. Carbon and nitrogen are found in the composition of all explosives. We can obtain the information for the identification of the explosives based on the time spectra of the signals of isotope decays after the pulsed irradiation of the object. The operational parameters of the detectors for baggage screening and humanitarian demining were obtained by computer simulation. We developed a laboratory unit consisting of a 55-MeV racetrack microtron, 250-L Cherenkov water counter, and VME standard electronics to study the technology. The experimental results obtained using this equipment are discussed.