Second Research Coordination Meeting: IAEA CRP on “Neutron Based Techniques for the Detection of Illicit Materials and Explosives”, Mumbai, 12-16 November 2007 FAST NEUTRON AND GAMMA-RAY INTERROGATION OF AIR CARGO CONTAINERS

Since 2002 the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has been working with the Australian Customs Service to develop a scanner capable of directly imaging airfreight containers in 1-2 minutes [1-4]. The scanner combines fast neutron and gamma-ray radiography (FNGR) to provide high-resolution images that include information on material composition. By collecting transmission radiographic images using both fast neutrons and gamma-rays, it is possible to determine the ratio, R, of the neutron to gamma-ray cross-section for each image pixel. The composition information greatly facilitates the task of image analysis. A commercial-scale CSIRO Air Cargo Scanner was installed at an Australian Customs Service facility at Brisbane International Airport in 2006 and a trial to evaluate the technology and associated business processes was carried out in 2006/7. The scanner facility incorporated an extensive automated cargo handling system, making possible the continuous processing of large numbers of containers.