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

• Published in: IEEE transactions on nuclear science 2009-02, Vol.56 (1), p.299-307
• Main Authors: Faust, A.A., Rothschild, R.E., Leblanc, P., McFee, J.E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apertures; Backscatter; Backscattering; Coded aperture; Compton scattering; Detectors; Explosive devices; Explosives; explosives detection; High temperature; High-resolution imaging; Imaging; Land mines; Landmine detection; nuclear imaging; Optical imaging; Spatial resolution; Supplying; X-ray detection; X-ray detectors; X-ray imaging; x-ray scattering; x-ray spectroscopy; X-rays
• ISSN: 0018-9499; 1558-1578
• DOI: 10.1109/TNS.2008.2009537

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.