Patent ID: 7405409

Claim:
A neutron elastic scattering detector device for non-invasively detecting the presence of at least one predetermined element of an object of interest, said detector device comprising: a neutron source simultaneously outputting at a creation time and a creation location a first neutron having a first energy, a second neutron having a second energy, and a baseline particle, said first energy being different from said second energy, said first neutron being output in a first direction and said baseline particle being output in a second direction, said first direction being opposite of said second direction, at least said first neutron impinging upon the at least one predetermined element of the object of interest and consequently scattering therefrom in a third direction; a baseline particle detector system detecting said baseline particle and outputting a baseline signal in response thereto; a neutron detector system detecting at least said first neutron and outputting a scattering signal in response thereto; and a processing unit in communication with said baseline particle detector system for receiving said baseline signal and said neutron detector system for receiving said scattering signal, said processing unit analyzing said baseline signal and said scattering signal to detect the presence of the at least one predetermined element.