Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system

Brian M. Bucher; Matthew R. Heath; David G. Mathews; James T. Matta; Carla J. Miller; C. Jayson Wharton; Edward H. Seabury; Paul A. Hausladen

doi:10.1117/12.3066111

Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system

Brian M. Bucher
, Matthew R. Heath
, David G. Mathews
, James T. Matta
, Carla J. Miller
, C. Jayson Wharton
, Edward H. Seabury
, Paul A. Hausladen

Radiation Imaging and Advanced Diagnosti

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

A field-portable tagged neutron interrogation system is being developed for detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents by prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis. The system combines an associated particle imaging deuterium-tritium neutron generator with a high-purity germanium γ-ray detector. Fine spatial resolution neutron and α detectors enable precise mapping of characteristic γ-ray emission distributions onto high-clarity neutron radiographic images. A narrow coincidence gate associated with each tagged neutron ensures a large signal-to-background ratio, thus significantly improving sensitivity to the chemical compositions of the items being assessed. Recent experimental results recorded from test objects involving mock explosives and other chemicals are presented.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII
Editors	Nerine J. Cherepy, Michael Fiederle, Ralph B. James
Publisher	SPIE
ISBN (Electronic)	9781510691506
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3066111
State	Published - Sep 19 2025
Event	27th Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics - San Diego, United States Duration: Aug 4 2025 → Aug 6 2025

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	13621
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)	1996-756X

Conference

Conference	27th Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics
Country/Territory	United States
City	San Diego
Period	08/4/25 → 08/6/25

Funding

The authors thank D. Archer (ORNL) for supplying materials used in the test objects. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Nuclear Security Administration, Office of Defense Nuclear NonProliferation Research and Development, the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity (CMA) Recovered Chemical Materiel Directorate (RCMD), and the DOE Idaho Operations Office under contract DE-AC07-05ID14517. Oak Ridge National Laboratory is managed by UT-Battelle, LLC for DOE under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725.

Keywords

associated particle imaging
germanium
high explosive
neutron activation analysis

Access to Document

10.1117/12.3066111

Cite this

Bucher, B. M., Heath, M. R., Mathews, D. G., Matta, J. T., Miller, C. J., Wharton, C. J., Seabury, E. H., & Hausladen, P. A. (2025). Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system. In N. J. Cherepy, M. Fiederle, & R. B. James (Eds.), Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII Article 1362107 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13621). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3066111

Bucher, Brian M. ; Heath, Matthew R. ; Mathews, David G. et al. / Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system. Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII. editor / Nerine J. Cherepy ; Michael Fiederle ; Ralph B. James. SPIE, 2025. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering).

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title = "Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system",

abstract = "A field-portable tagged neutron interrogation system is being developed for detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents by prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis. The system combines an associated particle imaging deuterium-tritium neutron generator with a high-purity germanium γ-ray detector. Fine spatial resolution neutron and α detectors enable precise mapping of characteristic γ-ray emission distributions onto high-clarity neutron radiographic images. A narrow coincidence gate associated with each tagged neutron ensures a large signal-to-background ratio, thus significantly improving sensitivity to the chemical compositions of the items being assessed. Recent experimental results recorded from test objects involving mock explosives and other chemicals are presented.",

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author = "Bucher, \{Brian M.\} and Heath, \{Matthew R.\} and Mathews, \{David G.\} and Matta, \{James T.\} and Miller, \{Carla J.\} and Wharton, \{C. Jayson\} and Seabury, \{Edward H.\} and Hausladen, \{Paul A.\}",

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month = sep,

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doi = "10.1117/12.3066111",

language = "English",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

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}

Bucher, BM, Heath, MR , Mathews, DG , Matta, JT, Miller, CJ, Wharton, CJ, Seabury, EH & Hausladen, PA 2025, Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system. in NJ Cherepy, M Fiederle & RB James (eds), Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII., 1362107, Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, vol. 13621, SPIE, 27th Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics, San Diego, United States, 08/4/25. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3066111

Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system. / Bucher, Brian M.; Heath, Matthew R.; Mathews, David G. et al.
Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII. ed. / Nerine J. Cherepy; Michael Fiederle; Ralph B. James. SPIE, 2025. 1362107 (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering; Vol. 13621).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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AB - A field-portable tagged neutron interrogation system is being developed for detection of explosives and chemical warfare agents by prompt γ-ray neutron activation analysis. The system combines an associated particle imaging deuterium-tritium neutron generator with a high-purity germanium γ-ray detector. Fine spatial resolution neutron and α detectors enable precise mapping of characteristic γ-ray emission distributions onto high-clarity neutron radiographic images. A narrow coincidence gate associated with each tagged neutron ensures a large signal-to-background ratio, thus significantly improving sensitivity to the chemical compositions of the items being assessed. Recent experimental results recorded from test objects involving mock explosives and other chemicals are presented.

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KW - high explosive

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Bucher BM, Heath MR , Mathews DG , Matta JT, Miller CJ, Wharton CJ et al. Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system. In Cherepy NJ, Fiederle M, James RB, editors, Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray, and Neutron Detector Physics XXVII. SPIE. 2025. 1362107. (Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering). doi: 10.1117/12.3066111

Improved field assessments of chemicals and explosives using high-resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy with a tagged neutron interrogation system

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