Explosive Detection Explosive Detection TechnologiesTechnologies

Usha Kiran SureddyUsha Kiran Sureddy

AgendaAgenda

Study different types of explosive detection Study different types of explosive detection technologiestechnologies– Neutron, Gamma Ray, X-RayNeutron, Gamma Ray, X-Ray– Active and PassiveActive and Passive

Analyze commercial applicationsAnalyze commercial applications– Cargo detectionCargo detection– Baggage screeningBaggage screening– Vehicle detectionVehicle detection

Explosive DetectionExplosive Detection TechnologiesTechnologies

Gamma Ray Based SystemsGamma Ray Based Systems– Ionization ChamberIonization Chamber– Pulsed Gamma Ray AnalysisPulsed Gamma Ray Analysis

Neutron Based SystemsNeutron Based Systems– Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA)Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA)– Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)– Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA)Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA)

X-Ray Based SystemsX-Ray Based Systems– TransmissionTransmission– BackscatterBackscatter

Ionization ChamberIonization Chamber Passive technology that detects the presence of Passive technology that detects the presence of

radioactivity by measuring electrons and ions radioactivity by measuring electrons and ions produced by the particle to be detectedproduced by the particle to be detected

Effective against radioactive materials in small Effective against radioactive materials in small tracestraces

Pinpoints the location of the threat by multi-Pinpoints the location of the threat by multi-dimensional detection arraysdimensional detection arrays

Easy to deploy, high throughputEasy to deploy, high throughput Cheaper to install and to maintainCheaper to install and to maintain

Pulsed Gamma Ray Pulsed Gamma Ray Active technology to Active technology to

detect explosives, detect explosives, nuclear materials and nuclear materials and chemical agentschemical agents

Measures relative Measures relative content of nitrogen, content of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon oxygen and carbon and by identifying and by identifying their molecular their molecular weightweight

Pulsed Gamma RayPulsed Gamma Ray

Effective against explosives, nuclear materials, Effective against explosives, nuclear materials, drugs, and chemical agentsdrugs, and chemical agents

Ability to identify the chemical composition of the Ability to identify the chemical composition of the materialsmaterials

Ability to identify the type and location of the Ability to identify the type and location of the targettarget

Penetration capabilityPenetration capability High accuracyHigh accuracy Imaging capabilityImaging capability Multi-functionalityMulti-functionality

Gamma Ray Technologies: Gamma Ray Technologies: ApplicationsApplications

Primary application for both these Primary application for both these technologies is the inspection of bulk loads, technologies is the inspection of bulk loads, such as containerssuch as containers

Explosive detectors are used at seaports, Explosive detectors are used at seaports, airports and bordersairports and borders

Useful for non-intrusive explosive detectionUseful for non-intrusive explosive detection Useful to identify the type and the location Useful to identify the type and the location

of the hazardous materialsof the hazardous materials

Neutron Based TechnologiesNeutron Based Technologies These technologies use radioactive sources as These technologies use radioactive sources as

neutron sourceneutron source Neutron particles generated by this source Neutron particles generated by this source

excite the nucleus of the atoms within the excite the nucleus of the atoms within the material being inspected, and the resulted material being inspected, and the resulted rays are characterized by their intensity and rays are characterized by their intensity and energyenergy

DisadvantagesDisadvantages– System complexity and costSystem complexity and cost– System weightSystem weight– Radiation hazardsRadiation hazards

Neutron Based TechnologiesNeutron Based Technologies

Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA)Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA)– Slow neutron interactionSlow neutron interaction

Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)– Fast neutron interactionFast neutron interaction

Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA)Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA)– Fast neutron pulses interactionFast neutron pulses interaction

Thermal Neutron Analysis Thermal Neutron Analysis (TNA)(TNA)

Thermal neutrons are produced by slowing Thermal neutrons are produced by slowing down fast neutrons generated by sources or down fast neutrons generated by sources or accelerators in specially designed moderatorsaccelerators in specially designed moderators

Neutron particles generated excite the nucleus Neutron particles generated excite the nucleus of the atoms within the material being of the atoms within the material being inspected, and the resulted rays are inspected, and the resulted rays are characterized by their intensity and energycharacterized by their intensity and energy

TNA characterizes high explosives by their TNA characterizes high explosives by their nitrogen and hydrogen tracesnitrogen and hydrogen traces

Thermal Neutron AnalysisThermal Neutron Analysis

AdvantagesAdvantages Easiest neutron based Easiest neutron based

methodmethod High accuracy and low High accuracy and low

false alarm ratefalse alarm rate Low cost ($1 million)Low cost ($1 million) Detects N, H and Cl Detects N, H and Cl

and some metallic and some metallic elementselements

DisadvantagesDisadvantages Not capable of Not capable of

detecting ‘O’ or ‘C’ detecting ‘O’ or ‘C’ elementselements

Possible interference Possible interference from other elementsfrom other elements

Slow throughputSlow throughput Real time inspection Real time inspection

not possiblenot possible

Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)Fast Neutron Analysis (FNA)

FNA is based on fast neutron interactions, FNA is based on fast neutron interactions, mostly inelastic neutron scatteringmostly inelastic neutron scattering

Analysis similar to the TNA technique is Analysis similar to the TNA technique is employedemployed

FNA characterizes explosives by their FNA characterizes explosives by their nitrogen, carbon, oxygen, chlorine tracesnitrogen, carbon, oxygen, chlorine traces

Pulsed Fast Neutron analysis Pulsed Fast Neutron analysis (PFNA)(PFNA)

Based on pulsed fast neutron interactions with Based on pulsed fast neutron interactions with the nuclei of targetthe nuclei of target

High energy neutrons help generate spatial High energy neutrons help generate spatial distribution of signal distribution of signal

Effective in detecting nuclear materials and Effective in detecting nuclear materials and metalsmetals

Pulsed Fast Neutron analysisPulsed Fast Neutron analysis

AdvantagesAdvantages High accuracy and low High accuracy and low

false alarm ratefalse alarm rate Detects all kinds of Detects all kinds of

explosivesexplosives Identifies the type of Identifies the type of

materialmaterial High Sensitivity, 3D High Sensitivity, 3D

imaging capabilityimaging capability

DisadvantagesDisadvantages High cost (> High cost (>

$10 million)$10 million) Complex system Complex system

(more space and labor (more space and labor requirement)requirement)

Requires high energy Requires high energy acceleratoraccelerator

Shielding requirementShielding requirement

X-Ray TechnologiesX-Ray Technologies

DescriptionInvolve irradiation of a target item with X-rays, followed by detection of images created by X-rays that are either transmitted or backscattered by the item

Effective in DetectingContrabandWeaponsExplosives(switches, detonators, etc.)

(Transmission & Backscatter)

Pros2D-3D quality imaging capabilityEstablished in the marketplaceMulti-functionality (contraband, smuggling, manifest verification)

ConsCan not identify the type of material

Only sensitive to shapes, densities & absorption patterns of materials

High false alarm rate (30%)Low throughput

Transmission Vs. Back-scatterTransmission Vs. Back-scatter

Transmission ImageTransmission Image Reveals fine detailsReveals fine details Can’t display materials Can’t display materials

discriminationdiscrimination Penetration of complex Penetration of complex

environmentsenvironmentsBackscatter ImageBackscatter Image Displays materials Displays materials

discriminationdiscrimination Ideal for complex Ideal for complex

environmentsenvironments

Transmission Vs. BackscatterTransmission Vs. Backscatter

Transmission

Backscatter

Summary of TechnologiesC

om

ple

xit

y

Low HighAbility to identify specific type of materials

High

Low

PFNA

X-ray

Pulsed Gamma

TNA

Ideal Technology FeaturesIdeal Technology Features

Operate at various energy levels

(Less than 1MeV to 50MeV)

Improved imaging capability

Fully automatic system (no labor requirement). No human error, Low cost

Ability to integrate with the legacy systems

Small footprint

(4,000 – 5,000 sq. ft)

High performance /price ratio

($10 million per unit)

Successful

Technology

Flexible in size and shape

Sensitivity to different radiation sources

Future TrendsC

om

ple

xit

y

Low HighAbility to identify specific type of materials

High

Low

PFNA

X-ray

TNA

Pulsed Gamma

Traditional X-ray technologies integrate with new technologies to enhance the detection capabilities

Market ApplicationsMarket Applications

CargoCargo– Sea cargoSea cargo– Air cargoAir cargo– Road cargoRoad cargo

Vehicle ScreeningVehicle Screening Baggage InspectionBaggage Inspection Other applicationsOther applications

– People screeningPeople screening– Medical applicationsMedical applications

Summary of MarketsSummary of Markets

Baggage ScreeningLarge market size (Over $4 billion)Deficiencies of existing technologies (False alarm rate, low sensitivity)Safety and throughput concerns Market

Potential

Seaport CargoLarge Market size ($2-$4 billion)Ineffectiveness of existing tech. in detecting specific threatsSafety and speed concerns

Air CargoMedium market size($1 billion)Penetration and multi-functionalitySafety and throughput concerns

Vehicle ScreeningMedium market sizeHuman SafetyThroughput concern

Border CargoMedium market size($1 billion)Throughput is importantImaging quality is crucial to detect smuggled goods and narcotics

ConclusionConclusion

Each technology has its own advantages and Each technology has its own advantages and disadvantagesdisadvantages

Speed, precision and safety emerge as Speed, precision and safety emerge as important features of technologyimportant features of technology

Combination technologies will prevailCombination technologies will prevail– Transmission & backscatter, X-rays combined Transmission & backscatter, X-rays combined

with other technologieswith other technologies

Thank you!Thank you!

Q&A?Q&A?