DETECTION OF EXPLOSIVES AND OTHER MATERIALS USING RESONANCE FLUORESCENCE, RESONANCE ABSORPTION, AND OTHER ELECTROMAGNETIC PROCESSES WITH BREMSSTRAHLUNG RADIATION

摘要

A technique for detecting explosives and other materials using resonance fluorescence, resonance absorption, and other electromagnetic processes with a continuous spectrum of photons is disclosed. The method is particularly attractive as a way to detect explosives at airports and other transportation terminals. According to one aspect of the invention, bremsstrahlung (16) or other continuous-spectrum photon radiation in the appropriate energy ranges is made incident on a target (26) (e.g., a piece of luggage or other container) to resonantly excite the atoms of the target. In one embodiment, the energies of the photons scattered directly from the target are detected and measured. These energies are characteristic of the nuclear species excited in the target, and thus the concentrations of these elements in the target can be determined. A high concentration of nitrogen and oxygen with a low concentration of carbon indicates practically without fail an explosive material.