Patent ID: 6791089
Filing Date: 2004-09-14
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for identifying a chemical substance, the method comprising:exposing said chemical substance to neutrons from an isotopic neutron source; measuring, with a high purity germanium detector, gamma rays emitted by said chemical substance as a result of exposure to said neutrons; creating a single spectrum of between 4096 and 16384 channels and a detection count per spectrum channel, said detection count corresponding to the number of detected gamma rays; calibrating from said single spectrum, an energy scale based on energies within said single spectrum of neutron-induced gamma rays generated from said detector, shielding materials or container materials; performing a peak-by-peak analysis of the corresponding gamma-ray energies of chemical elements of interest on said spectrum; and identifying said chemical substance based on said peak-by-peak analysis of said single spectrum.