Patent ID: 8149988
Filing Date: 2012-04-03
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for detecting a potential item of interest in a target sample, the method comprising: a) providing a first source of photons, configured to generate photons by at least one of: Compton scattering of photons by electrons; passage of a beam of electrons through a periodic lattice; and a particle-induced reaction in a nucleus, wherein the first source photon frequency is tunable to a plurality of specific energies of interest; b) providing at least one photon detector to measure an intensity of photons scattered from at least a portion of the target sample in at least one energy channel; c) tuning the first photon source to a first specific energy of interest corresponding to a nuclear resonance in a first nuclear species of interest; d) illuminating the target sample with photons from the first photon source having the first specific energy of interest; e) upon the intensity of photons detected in at least one of the at least one detector energy channels of interest meeting a predetermined first nuclear species of interest detection criterion, determining that the first nuclear species of interest has been detected; f). upon the intensity of photons detected in all energy channels of interest not meeting the predetermined first nuclear species of interest detection criterion, repeating steps d) to e) with the first photon source tuned to a further specific energy of interest corresponding to a nuclear resonance in a further nuclear species of interest.