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Proof of concept for illicit material detection via active photon interrogation and photoneutron spectrometry in realistic inspection scenarios.

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Title: Proof of concept for illicit material detection via active photon interrogation and photoneutron spectrometry in realistic inspection scenarios.
Authors: Besnard-Vauterin, C.1 (AUTHOR) besnard.clement@gmail.com, Rapp, B.1 (AUTHOR) benjamin.rapp@cea.fr, Blideanu, V.1 (AUTHOR) valentin.blideanu@cea.fr
Source: Radiation Physics & Chemistry. Aug2025, Vol. 233, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Scrap metals, Neutron emission, X-ray imaging, Hazardous substances, National security
Abstract: This study investigates the application of Active Photon Interrogation coupled to Photoneutron Spectrometry (API-PS) as a novel technique for detecting nitrogen-rich materials, such as explosives and narcotics, in realistic inspection scenarios. API-PS leverages high-energy photons to induce neutron emission from target materials, allowing for element-specific identification based on corresponding unique photoneutron spectra. Through a series of controlled experiments, we assessed API-PS's effectiveness by analysing the photoneutron spectra of melamine—a nitrogen-rich compound often used as a surrogate for illicit materials—embedded in various configurations alongside common items such as clothing, electronics, and scrap metals. Our findings demonstrate that API-PS is capable of distinguishing nitrogen signature even in the presence of significant other photoneutron contributions from higher Z metals, such as copper. In particular, spectral features characteristic of nitrogen remained identifiable, despite interference from other elements like oxygen, underscoring API-PS's potential to reliably identify illicit substances in challenging inspection conditions. The complementary use of dual-energy X-ray imaging enhanced our ability to interpret the API-PS spectra by providing a spatial context for the material arrangement, aiding in the differentiation of target signals. The results of this proof-of-concept study suggest that API-PS could offer substantial benefits for security screening applications, particularly in high-stakes environments such as airports, harbours, and border checkpoints, where accurate detection of hazardous or illicit materials is essential. • Active photon interrogation coupled with photoneutron spectrometry enables detection of nitrogen-rich illicit materials like explosives. • Controlled tests confirm API-PS's ability to identify nitrogen in complex realistic scenarios. • API-PS enhances security screening by adding chemical specificity to imaging. • The method is promising for airports, borders, and cargo inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Radiation Physics & Chemistry is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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DbLabel: Engineering Source
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  Data: Proof of concept for illicit material detection via active photon interrogation and photoneutron spectrometry in realistic inspection scenarios.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Besnard-Vauterin%2C+C%2E%22">Besnard-Vauterin, C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> besnard.clement@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rapp%2C+B%2E%22">Rapp, B.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> benjamin.rapp@cea.fr</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Blideanu%2C+V%2E%22">Blideanu, V.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> valentin.blideanu@cea.fr</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Radiation+Physics+%26+Chemistry%22">Radiation Physics & Chemistry</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 233, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scrap+metals%22">Scrap metals</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neutron+emission%22">Neutron emission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22X-ray+imaging%22">X-ray imaging</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hazardous+substances%22">Hazardous substances</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22National+security%22">National security</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study investigates the application of Active Photon Interrogation coupled to Photoneutron Spectrometry (API-PS) as a novel technique for detecting nitrogen-rich materials, such as explosives and narcotics, in realistic inspection scenarios. API-PS leverages high-energy photons to induce neutron emission from target materials, allowing for element-specific identification based on corresponding unique photoneutron spectra. Through a series of controlled experiments, we assessed API-PS's effectiveness by analysing the photoneutron spectra of melamine—a nitrogen-rich compound often used as a surrogate for illicit materials—embedded in various configurations alongside common items such as clothing, electronics, and scrap metals. Our findings demonstrate that API-PS is capable of distinguishing nitrogen signature even in the presence of significant other photoneutron contributions from higher Z metals, such as copper. In particular, spectral features characteristic of nitrogen remained identifiable, despite interference from other elements like oxygen, underscoring API-PS's potential to reliably identify illicit substances in challenging inspection conditions. The complementary use of dual-energy X-ray imaging enhanced our ability to interpret the API-PS spectra by providing a spatial context for the material arrangement, aiding in the differentiation of target signals. The results of this proof-of-concept study suggest that API-PS could offer substantial benefits for security screening applications, particularly in high-stakes environments such as airports, harbours, and border checkpoints, where accurate detection of hazardous or illicit materials is essential. • Active photon interrogation coupled with photoneutron spectrometry enables detection of nitrogen-rich illicit materials like explosives. • Controlled tests confirm API-PS's ability to identify nitrogen in complex realistic scenarios. • API-PS enhances security screening by adding chemical specificity to imaging. • The method is promising for airports, borders, and cargo inspections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Radiation Physics & Chemistry is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2025.112709
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Neutron emission
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      – SubjectFull: X-ray imaging
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      – SubjectFull: Hazardous substances
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      – TitleFull: Proof of concept for illicit material detection via active photon interrogation and photoneutron spectrometry in realistic inspection scenarios.
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              M: 08
              Text: Aug2025
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              Y: 2025
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