PELAN: a pulsed neutron portable probe for UXO and land mine identification

George Vourvopoulos; Phillip C. Womble; Jonathon Paschal

doi:10.1117/12.410556

18 December 2000 PELAN: a pulsed neutron portable probe for UXO and land mine identification

George Vourvopoulos, Phillip C. Womble, Jonathon Paschal

Proceedings Volume 4142, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications II; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410556
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

There has been much work increasing the sensitivity of detecting metallic objects in soils and other environments. This has lead to a problem in discriminating unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines form other metallic clutter. PELAN is a small portable system for the detection of explosives. PELAN weights less than 45 kg and is man portable. It is based on the principle that explosives and other contraband contain various chemical elements such as H, C, N, O, etc. in quantities and ratios that differentiate them from other innocuous substances. The pulsed neutrons are produced with a 14 MeV neutron generator. Separate gamma-ray spectra form fast neutron, thermal neutron and activation reactions are accumulated and analyzed to determine elemental content. The data analysis is performed in an automatic manner and a result of whether a threat is present is returned to the operator. PELAN has successfully undergone field demonstrations for explosive detection. In this paper, we will discuss the application of PELAN to the problem of differentiating threats from metallic clutter.

Citation Download Citation

George Vourvopoulos, Phillip C. Womble, and Jonathon Paschal "PELAN: a pulsed neutron portable probe for UXO and land mine identification", Proc. SPIE 4142, Penetrating Radiation Systems and Applications II, (18 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.410556

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