Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications

P. B. Rose; A. S. Erickson

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2015.07.065

Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications

P. B. Rose, A. S. Erickson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

Active interrogation of cargo containers using monoenergetic photons offers a rapid and low-dose approach to search for shielded special nuclear materials. Cherenkov detectors can be used for imaging of the cargo provided that gamma ray energies used in interrogation are well resolved, as the case in ¹¹B(d,n-γ)¹²C reaction resulting in 4.4 MeV and 15.1 MeV photons. While an array of Cherenkov threshold detectors reduces low energy background from scatter while providing the ability of high contrast transmission imaging, thus confirming the presence of high-Z materials, these detectors require a special approach to energy calibration due to the lack of resolution. In this paper, we discuss the utility of Cherenkov detectors for active interrogation with monoenergetic photons as well as the results of computational and experimental studies of their energy calibration. The results of the studies with sources emitting monoenergetic photons as well as complex gamma ray spectrum sources, for example ²³²Th, show that calibration is possible as long as the energies of photons of interest are distinct.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	99-104
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	799
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2015.07.065
State	Published - Aug 22 2015
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant no. ECCS-1348366 and by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under Grant Award no. 2014-DN-077-ARI079-02 . The views and conclusions contained in this paper are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This work is a part of the ARI Collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (R. Lanza) and Pennsylvania State University (I. Jovanovic).

Funders	Funder number
National Science Foundation	1348366, ECCS-1348366
U.S. Department of Homeland Security	2014-DN-077-ARI079-02

Keywords

Active interrogation
Cherenkov detectors
Imaging
Shielded special nuclear material

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10.1016/j.nima.2015.07.065

Cite this

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title = "Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications",

abstract = "Active interrogation of cargo containers using monoenergetic photons offers a rapid and low-dose approach to search for shielded special nuclear materials. Cherenkov detectors can be used for imaging of the cargo provided that gamma ray energies used in interrogation are well resolved, as the case in 11B(d,n-γ)12C reaction resulting in 4.4 MeV and 15.1 MeV photons. While an array of Cherenkov threshold detectors reduces low energy background from scatter while providing the ability of high contrast transmission imaging, thus confirming the presence of high-Z materials, these detectors require a special approach to energy calibration due to the lack of resolution. In this paper, we discuss the utility of Cherenkov detectors for active interrogation with monoenergetic photons as well as the results of computational and experimental studies of their energy calibration. The results of the studies with sources emitting monoenergetic photons as well as complex gamma ray spectrum sources, for example 232Th, show that calibration is possible as long as the energies of photons of interest are distinct.",

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Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications. / Rose, P. B.; Erickson, A. S.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 799, 22.08.2015, p. 99-104.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications

AU - Rose, P. B.

AU - Erickson, A. S.

PY - 2015/8/22

Y1 - 2015/8/22

N2 - Active interrogation of cargo containers using monoenergetic photons offers a rapid and low-dose approach to search for shielded special nuclear materials. Cherenkov detectors can be used for imaging of the cargo provided that gamma ray energies used in interrogation are well resolved, as the case in 11B(d,n-γ)12C reaction resulting in 4.4 MeV and 15.1 MeV photons. While an array of Cherenkov threshold detectors reduces low energy background from scatter while providing the ability of high contrast transmission imaging, thus confirming the presence of high-Z materials, these detectors require a special approach to energy calibration due to the lack of resolution. In this paper, we discuss the utility of Cherenkov detectors for active interrogation with monoenergetic photons as well as the results of computational and experimental studies of their energy calibration. The results of the studies with sources emitting monoenergetic photons as well as complex gamma ray spectrum sources, for example 232Th, show that calibration is possible as long as the energies of photons of interest are distinct.

AB - Active interrogation of cargo containers using monoenergetic photons offers a rapid and low-dose approach to search for shielded special nuclear materials. Cherenkov detectors can be used for imaging of the cargo provided that gamma ray energies used in interrogation are well resolved, as the case in 11B(d,n-γ)12C reaction resulting in 4.4 MeV and 15.1 MeV photons. While an array of Cherenkov threshold detectors reduces low energy background from scatter while providing the ability of high contrast transmission imaging, thus confirming the presence of high-Z materials, these detectors require a special approach to energy calibration due to the lack of resolution. In this paper, we discuss the utility of Cherenkov detectors for active interrogation with monoenergetic photons as well as the results of computational and experimental studies of their energy calibration. The results of the studies with sources emitting monoenergetic photons as well as complex gamma ray spectrum sources, for example 232Th, show that calibration is possible as long as the energies of photons of interest are distinct.

KW - Active interrogation

KW - Cherenkov detectors

KW - Imaging

KW - Shielded special nuclear material

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Calibration of Cherenkov detectors for monoenergetic photon imaging in active interrogation applications

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