Using characteristic radiative emissions for material identification

This technology is a device that analyzes the characteristic radiative emissions of atoms to detect and identify materials.

Unmet Need: Accurate detection and identification of materials

Currently, there are no efficient methods for the low-background detection and localization of materials such as uranium shielded in shipping containers. This is because these containers are opaque to conventional imaging and detection devices, like X-ray screening. Further, there is no method for the detection and correlation of multiple characteristic radiative emissions, such as X-rays and neutrons, emitted from the de-excitation of an atom in order to identify an element.

The Technology: Platform for detection and correlation of radiative emissions

This technology provides a platform to detect materials by their characteristic radiative emissions. Emissions resulting from the de-excitation of atoms are detected using X-ray detectors. The characteristic radiative emissions and correlations between them allow for the accurate identification of the material with virtually no background. When more then one incident particle is applied, multi-dimensional localization of the sample is also possible in addition to its identification.

This technology has been validated in a computer simulation.

Applications:

• Fingerprinting of materials based on their radiative emissions
• Identification of hidden controlled materials such as uranium in border security and postal security
• Research tool for determining the correlation between two emitted radiative emissions

Advantages:

• Capable of penetrating materials opaque to traditional ionizing radiation
• Facilitates the identification of smuggled radioactive material
• Inherently noise-free material identification
• Safe for commercial use
• Does not use ionizing radiation
• Uses established X-ray detector technology for cost-efficiency
• Can be fully automated or run by operators with minimal technical training

Lead Inventor:

Charles J. Hailey, Ph.D.

Patent Information:

Patent Status

Related Publications:

• Mori K, Hailey CJ, Baltz EA, Craig WW, Kamionkowski M, Serber WT, Ullio P. “A novel antimatter detector based on X-ray deexcitation of exotic atoms” Astrophys J. 2002 Feb 10; 566(1): 604-616.

• Hailey CJ, Craig WW, Harrison FA, Hong J, Mori K, Koglin J, Yu HT, Ziock KP. “Development of the gaseous antiparticle spectrometer for space-based antimatter detection” Nucl Instrum Methods Phys Res B. 2004 Jan 1; 214: 122-125.

Tech Ventures Reference:

• IR M03-042

• Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer