Adjustable and near monochromatic photon source in non-destructive testing of container for imaging and substance detection, the use of the nuclear resonance fluorescence

摘要

A method for detecting a potential item of interest in a target sample, the method comprising: a) providing a source of photons (12) with an energy spectrum that overlaps a nuclear resonance in the item of interest and wherein the source photons are generated by Compton scattering of photons by electrons; b) illuminating the target sample (20,22) with photons from the source; c) providing at least one photon detector (38,40) to measure an intensity of photons scattered from at least a portion the target sample in at least one energy channel; and d) identifying an item of interest detection event if the intensity of photons detected in at least one of the at least one energy channels of interest meets a predetermined item of interest detection criterion.