Patent ID: 8867687
Filing Date: 2014-10-21
Classification: G01T,G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting a presence of a material comprising an actinide in a container, comprising: a) locating at least one neutron detector such that said detector views said container at a first angle relative to a first incident continuous neutron beam; b) illuminating at least a portion of said container with said first incident continuous neutron beam, wherein said first incident continuous neutron beam comprises neutrons with a first predetermined incident neutron energy >1 MeV.; c) detecting, in at least one said neutron detector viewing said container at the first angle, a plurality of prompt neutrons produced by a fission interaction of said first incident continuous neutron beam with at least a portion of said container; d) for at least one of said detected prompt neutrons, determining a minimum energy of said detected prompt neutron; and e) based upon the determined minimum energy of a predetermined quantity of said detected prompt neutrons exceeding a predetermined value, determining that the material comprising the actinide is present in the container.