Material identification based upon energy-dependent attenuation of neutrons
| DWPI Title: System for identifying elemental composition of sample, has mono-energetic neutron source that emits neutrons, where sample is positioned between detector units and electronic circuit is configured to identify one element in sample |
| Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to identifying a material in a sample and imaging the sample are described herein. The material is identified by computing energy-dependent attenuation of neutrons that is caused by presence of the sample in travel paths of the neutrons. A mono-energetic neutron generator emits the neutron, which is downscattered in energy by a first detector unit. The neutron exits the first detector unit and is detected by a second detector unit subsequent to passing through the sample. Energy-dependent attenuation of neutrons passing through the sample is computed based upon a computed energy of the neutron, wherein such energy can be computed based upon 1) known positions of the neutron generator, the first detector unit, and the second detector unit; or 2) computed time of flight of neutrons between the first detector unit and the second detector unit. |
| Use: System for identifying the elemental composition of a sample. |
| Advantage: The sample is positioned between the detector units and an electronic circuit is configured to identify one element in the sample, and hence enables to determine the energy of the neutrons and provides the time information to reduce the noise in the system. |
| Novelty: The system (200) comprises a mono-energetic neutron source that emits the neutrons. Multiple detector units (202,204,206,208,210,212), where the former detector unit detects a neutron, which is emitted from a mono-energetic neutron source and the latter detector unit detects the neutron subsequent. The former detector unit outputs one electrical signal to detect the neutron. A sample (102) is positioned between the former detector unit and the latter detector unit. An electronic circuit is configured to identify element in the sample. |
| Filed: 6/4/2014 |
| Application Number: US14296332A |
| Tech ID: SD 12763.0 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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