Patent Number: 060375973
Section: claims

1. A laminate device for self-contained delivery of epithermal neutrons, comprising: a first polymer layer having embedded therein a chemical source of alpha-radiation;  a second polymer layer, the second polymer layer being opaque to alpha-radiation and having defined therein a diffraction opening for passing alpha-radiation from said chemical source of alpha-radiation;  a third polymer layer having embedded therein a source of epithermal neutrons, said third polymer layer being positioned relative to said second polymer layer such that alpha-radiation from said chemical source of alpha-radiation impinges upon the source of neutrons, thereby generating epithermal neutrons; and  a fourth polymer layer, said fourth polymer layer being impermeable to epithermal neutrons and defining a diffraction opening for passing said generated epithermal neutrons.  a non-conductive substrate opaque to epithermal neutrons;  a pattern of electrically conductive material imprinted upon said non-conductive substrate, said pattern providing a plurality of leads for electrical connection of radiation detectors;  a plurality of radiation detectors affixed to said substrate and electrically connected to said plurality of leads; and  a plurality of self-contained radiation sources affixed to said substrate.  positioning said object adjacent a source/detector array device for non-destructive interrogation, the device including:  a non-conductive substrate;  a pattern of electrically conductive material imprinted upon said non-conductive substrate, said pattern providing a plurality of leads for electrical connection of radiation detectors;  a plurality of radiation detectors affixed to said substrate and electrically connected to said plurality of leads; and  a plurality of self-contained radiation sources affixed to said substrate;  detecting said characteristic radiation signal with said detectors.  a first polymer layer having embedded therein a chemical source of alpha-radiation;  a second polymer layer, the second polymer layer being opaque to alpha-radiation and having defined therein a diffraction opening for passing alpha-radiation from said chemical source of alpha-radiation;  a third polymer layer having embedded therein a chemical source of epithermal neutrons, said third polymer layer being positioned relative to said second polymer layer such that alpha-radiation from said source of alpha-radiation impinges upon the source of neutrons, thereby generating epithermal neutrons; and  a fourth polymer layer, said fourth polymer layer being opaque to epithermal neutrons and defining a diffraction opening for passing said generated epithermal neutrons. 2. The device of claim 1, which also includes a fifth polymer layer having embedded therein a sealed article containing liquid nitrogen, for cooling the device. 3. A radiation source/detector array device for non-destructive interrogation, comprising: 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said plurality of self-contained radiation sources includes devices according to claim 1. 5. The device of claim 4 which also includes a plurality of x-ray sources, and a plurality of x-ray detectors. 6. The device of claim 5, which also includes a plurality of neutron detectors. 7. A method for non-destructively interrogating an object, comprising: 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said radiation sources include thermal neutron sources. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the epithermal neutron sources include: