Detection of explosive materials with Gamma Resonant Nuclear Absorption and Argon-Nitrogen TPC

12 Sept 2011, 15:30
20m

Speaker

Dr Igor Kreslo (LHEP, Uni-Bern)

Description

Detection of explosives in large cargo containers is an important preventive measure to counteract terrorism. The element-sensitive radiography with gamma-rays is one promising method, allowing to selectively detect Nitrogen content in various materials, which is a reliable signature of most of commercial explosives. A novel high-resolution tracking detector sensitive to 9.17 MeV Nitrogen nuclear resonant absorption-line is being developed at the University of Bern. The detector is based on a Time Projection Chamber (TPC) filled with a mixture of liquefied Argon and Nitrogen. The facility to generate gamma-rays of the required energy is based on a 2 MeV proton LINAC. First promising results of the performance of the detector and of the gamma-source facility are presented.

Preferred medium (Oral/poster)

Oral

Author

Dr Igor Kreslo (LHEP, Uni-Bern)

Co-author

Mr Marcel Zeller (LHEP, Uni-Bern)

Presentation materials