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DUNBID, the Delft University neutron backscattering imaging detector.
V R Bom1, C W E van Eijk, M A Ali
1Delft University of Technology, Mekelweg 15, 2629 JB Delft, The Netherlands. vb@iri.tudelft.nl
Summary
Neutron backscattering offers fast detection of low-metallic land mines in dry soil. Improving the signal-to-noise ratio enhances detection accuracy for land mine identification.
Area of Science:
- Nuclear geophysics
- Land mine detection technology
Background:
- Traditional metal detectors struggle with low-metallic land mines.
- Neutron backscattering presents a potential alternative for land mine detection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of neutron backscattering for detecting low-metallic land mines.
- To assess the feasibility of using a two-dimensional position sensitive detector for imaging thermal neutron radiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a radionuclide neutron source and a pulsed neutron generator.
- Employed a two-dimensional position sensitive detector to image backscattered thermal neutrons.
- Applied a neutron time-of-flight window to enhance signal-to-noise ratio.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated the potential for high-speed scanning comparable to metal detectors.
- Showcased the ability to obtain images of backscattered thermal neutron radiation.
- Confirmed that a neutron time-of-flight window significantly improves the on-mine to no-mine signal ratio.
Conclusions:
- Neutron backscattering is a viable technique for detecting low-metallic land mines in dry conditions.
- The use of a two-dimensional position sensitive detector and time-of-flight analysis improves detection capabilities.