Patent ID: 7630474
Filing Date: 2009-12-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of examining contents of objects, the method comprising: accelerating a plurality of electrons to a predetermined acceleration energy; colliding the accelerated electrons with a target to cause generation of X-ray photons; scanning at least a portion of an object with at least some of the X-ray photons; determining first energies of at least some of the X-ray photons after scanning; determining second energies of at least some of the accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; correlating respective first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning with second energies of respective accelerated electrons after colliding with the target; determining third energies of respective detected X-ray photons prior to scanning based, at least in part, on the second energies of respective correlated accelerated electrons after colliding with the target and the predetermined acceleration energy; and determining whether a suspect material is at least potentially present based, at least in part, on the first energies of respective X-ray photons after scanning and the third energies of the detected X-ray photons prior to scanning.