title: Detection of landmines by using 14 MeV neutron tagged beams.
abstract: A large-area scanning system using 14 MeV tagged neutrons has been built. The associated (4)He particles emitted in the D+T reaction are detected in an array of Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters that defines a scanning plane having about 10 x 100 cm(2) area. Coincident gamma-rays are detected by 10 BaF(2) scintillators. The capability of the system to determine the presence and the position of samples and to perform an on-line background subtraction is demonstrated. Test with landmines are also reported. This technique allows a significant improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio searching for hidden threat materials. The use with portable sealed-tube generators is foreseen.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, dell' Università di Padova, INFN Sezione di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, Padova I-35131, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lunardon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nebbia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pesente
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viesti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbui
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cinausero
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Erasmo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palomba
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantaleo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Filippini
mesh_terms: D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005107:Explosions / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005214:Fast Neutrons; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006371:Helium / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D012987:Soil; D006371:Helium