Patent ID: 8718219
Filing Date: 2014-05-06
Classification: G01T,G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a presence of a material comprising an actinide in a container, comprising: a) locating the container such that at least one neutron detector capable of distinguishing between photons and neutrons is positioned to view the said container at a first viewing angle relative to a photon beam; b) illuminating at least a portion of the said container with the photon beam comprising photons of energies no greater than a first predetermined cutoff photon energy; c) detecting in at least one of said at least one neutron detector some energetic prompt neutrons produced by fission reactions from an interaction of the said photon beam with at least a portion of the said container; d) for each of a plurality of said detected energetic prompt neutrons, determining an energy of the said detected neutron; and e) based upon the determined energy of a statistically significant number of said detected energetic prompt neutrons exceeding a predetermined value, identifying the material comprising the actinide as present in the container.