Development of a Coded Aperture X-Ray Backscatter Imager for Explosive Device Detection

Defence R&D Canada has an active research and development program on detection of explosive devices using nuclear methods. One system under development is a coded aperture-based X-ray backscatter imaging detector designed to provide sufficient speed, contrast and spatial resolution to detect antipersonnel landmines and improvised explosive devices. The successful development of a hand-held imaging detector requires, among other things, a light-weight, ruggedized detector with low power requirements, supplying high spatial resolution. The University of California, San Diego-designed HEXIS detector provides a modern, large area, high-temperature CZT imaging surface, robustly packaged in a light-weight housing with sound mechanical properties. Based on the potential for the HEXIS detector to be incorporated as the detection element of a hand-held imaging detector, the authors initiated a collaborative effort to demonstrate the capability of a coded aperture-based X-ray backscatter imaging detector. This paper will discuss the landmine and IED detection problem and review the coded aperture technique. Results from initial proof-of-principle experiments will then be reported.

[1]  Michael R. Pelling,et al.  Design and performance of the HEXIS CZT detector module , 2003, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[2]  Anthony A. Faust.  Detection of Explosive Devices using X-ray Backscatter Radiation , 2002, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[3]  E J Burge,et al.  X Rays in Atomic and Nuclear Physics , 1974 .

[4]  T. Tumer,et al.  Readout electronics for nuclear applications (RENA) chip , 1997, 1997 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record.

[5]  Alan M. Jacobs,et al.  Lateral Migration Radiography Image Signatures for the Detection and Identification of Buried Land Mines , 2001 .

[6]  Robert B. Moler.  Workshop Report: Nuclear Techniques for Mine Detection Research, July 22-25, 1985, Lake Luzerne, New York , 1985 .

[7]  Christopher M. Brown,et al.  Multiplex imaging with multiple-pinhole cameras , 1974 .

[8]  R Accorsi,et al.  Near-field artifact reduction in planar coded aperture imaging. , 2001, Applied optics.

[9]  E E Fenimore,et al.  New family of binary arrays for coded aperture imaging. , 1989, Applied optics.

[10]  E. Caroli,et al.  Coded aperture imaging in X- and gamma-ray astronomy , 1987 .

[11]  F. D. Brooks,et al.  The HYDAD-D antipersonnel landmine detector. , 2005, Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine.

[12]  Berthold K. P. Horn,et al.  Large area imaging detector for long-range, passive detection of fissile material , 2003, 2003 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium. Conference Record (IEEE Cat. No.03CH37515).

[13]  J. R. Lockwood,et al.  Alternatives for landmine detection , 2003 .

[14]  T. M. Cannon,et al.  Coded aperture imaging with uniformly redundant arrays. , 1978, Applied optics.

[15]  Anthony A. Faust,et al.  Development of a coded-aperture backscatter imager using the UC San Diego HEXIS detector , 2003, SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing.

[16]  R. Accorsi,et al.  Optimal coded aperture patterns for improved SNR in nuclear medicine imaging , 2001 .

[17]  A large-area PSPMT based gamma-ray imager with edge reclamation , 2000 .

[18]  Berthold K. P. Horn,et al.  High energy 3-D nuclear medicine imaging using coded apertures with a conventional gamma camera , 1998, 1998 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record. 1998 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference (Cat. No.98CH36255).

[19]  Zhong He,et al.  Design and modeling of the hybrid portable gamma camera system , 1997 .

[20]  Leon Forman,et al.  Forming images with thermal neutrons , 2003, SPIE Optics + Photonics.

[21]  E. E. Fenimore,et al.  Uniformly redundant arrays: digital reconstruction methods. , 1981, Applied optics.

[22]  Shi Yin,et al.  Readout electronics for nuclear applications (RENA) IC , 1998, Optics & Photonics.

[23]  C. Cork,et al.  A germanium-based, coded aperture imager , 2001, 2001 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record (Cat. No.01CH37310).

[24]  Lorenzo Fabris,et al.  Real-time generation of images with pixel-by-pixel spectra for a coded aperture imager with high spectral resolution , 2003 .

[25]  C. V. van Eijk,et al.  Landmine detection with the neutron backscattering method , 2000, 2000 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium. Conference Record (Cat. No.00CH37149).

[26]  John E. McFee,et al.  The Feasibility of Neutron Moderation Imaging for Land Mine Detection , 2003 .