Patent ID: 8781072

Claim:
An apparatus for obtaining radiation interaction data from an object to determine information about the composition of the object comprising: a radiation source configured to produce a single pencil beam of radiation; a radiation detector system spaced therefrom to define a scanning zone therebetween and to collect in use information about radiation incident at the detector system after interaction with an object in the scanning zone, the detector system configured to detect and collect spectroscopically resolvable information about incident radiation; and means to retain an object in a stationary scanning position within the scanning zone; wherein the radiation detector system comprises a first detector means positioned to collect a first intensity dataset of radiation incident thereupon that results from the single pencil beam of radiation after transmission through an object, and at least one further detector means positioned to collect a further intensity dataset radiation incident thereupon that results from the single pencil beam of radiation after a scattering interaction with an object; wherein the apparatus further comprises a first data processing module adapted to resolve said first intensity dataset across at least three energy bands within the spectrum of the source, and at least one further data processing module adapted to resolve said further intensity dataset across at least three energy bands within the spectrum of the source including determining the scatter angle that results from the single pencil beam of radiation; and wherein the radiation detector system comprises a linear detector and wherein the first detector means is a first portion of the linear detector that is in direct line with the source and object under test to collect transmitted information and the at least one further detector means is a second portion of the linear detector which is located off the direct line so as to collect forward scattered radiation.