Patent ID: 7501624

Claim:
An active interrogation and detection system for detecting dangerous materials concealed within a container, comprising: a high current negative ion source for providing a charged-particle beam; a high current tandem accelerator having an entrance and an exit, said accelerator receiving said charged-particle beam through said entrance and accelerating said charged-particle beam to a pre-selected level to provide an accelerated beam at said exit; a target material located outside of said accelerator and in the pathway of said accelerated beam exiting said accelerator whereupon impact of said accelerated beam with said target material produces a penetrating beam for direction into said container; at least one detector located proximate said container for detecting a pre-identified signal provided by the interaction of said penetrating beam and said dangerous materials concealed within said container; and an induction coil located proximate said exit of said accelerator for controlling energy fluctuations in said accelerated beam.