APPARATUS FOR DETECTING HIDDEN RADIOACTIVE, EXPLOSIVE AND FISSILE MATERIALS

摘要

An apparatus for detecting explosive, fissile and radioactive materials comprises a preliminary checking area having one or more gamma ray detectors and a semiconductor detector; a main checking area having a neutron generator based on the deuterium-deuterium reaction; a moderator substantially composed of polyethylene elements having engineering cavities filled with pure graphite, and two detector arrays. A first array comprises gamma ray detectors for trapping gamma rays of particular energies induced as a result of capturing the thermal neutrons by the explosive material, and for trapping delayed gamma rays of the fissile material. A second array comprises neutron detectors for trapping delayed neutrons resulting from nuclear fission induced in the fissile material. The apparatus further comprises a separate monitoring neutron detector coupled with control means for ensuring the stability of the neutron flux.