DETECTING HIGH ATOMIC NUMBER MATERIALS WITH COSMIC RAY MUON TOMOGRAPHY

摘要

A method is proposed herein to detect high atomic number materials, such as Special Nuclear Materials, within a container based on muon tomography. The container is modeled as a plurality of volume elements. Information related to an initial trajectory and a final trajectory of each muon passing through the container is received. Additionally, a set of initial outer prong vectors and a set of final outer prong vectors are created. Then, a plurality of vector combinations are created from a selected initial vector and a selected final vector. A metric is determined and associated with each vector combination. A subset of the plurality of vector combinations is associated with each volume element and an estimated scattering density is determined and assigned to the volume element. Based on the estimated scattering density assigned to the volume elements, a three dimensional image of the container may be generated.

主权项

1. A method of detecting high atomic number materials within a container, said method comprising:
modeling said container as a plurality of volume elements; for each muon of a plurality of muons passing through said container:
receiving information related to an initial trajectory of said each muon;receiving information related to a final trajectory of said each muon;creating, based on an initial trajectory vector formed based on said information related to said initial trajectory, a set of initial outer prong vectors;creating, based on a final trajectory vector formed based on said information related to said final trajectory, a set of final outer prong vectors;creating a plurality of vector combinations from:
a selected initial vector, selected from among said initial trajectory vector and said set of initial outer prong vectors; anda selected final vector, selected from among said final trajectory vector and said set of final outer prong vectors; for each vector combination of said plurality of vector combinations:
determining a metric;associating said metric with said each vector combination; for each volume element of said plurality of volume elements:
determining a subset of said plurality of vector combinations to associate with said each volume element;determining an estimated scattering density based on said metrics associated with said subset of said plurality of vector combinations;assigning said estimated scattering density to said each volume element; and based on said estimated scattering density assigned to said each volume element, generating a three dimensional image of said container.