An explosives detection system for airline security using coherent x-ray scattering technology

Abstract

L-3 Communications Security and Detection Systems (SDS) has developed a new system for automated alarm resolution in airline baggage Explosive Detection Systems (EDS) based on coherent x-ray scattering spectroscopy. The capabilities of the system were demonstrated in tests with concealed explosives at the Transportation Security Laboratory and airline passenger baggage at Orlando International Airport. The system uses x-ray image information to identify suspicious objects and performs targeted diffraction measurements to classify them. This extra layer of detection capability affords a significant reduction in the rate of false alarm objects that must presently be resolved by opening passenger bags for hand inspection.

An X-ray scatter system for material identification in cluttered objects: A Monte Carlo simulation study

“…In homeland security applications, Madden et al [5] and Harding [22] proposed systems for explosives detection in suitcases that first acquired a transmission image of the suitcase, followed by an X-ray diffraction image of objects that raised suspicion in the transmission image. They argued that X-ray diffraction provided orthogonal information to transmission measurements and therefore X-ray diffraction could be used as a second automatic screening in order to reduce the number of bags that needed to be manually opened and inspected.…”

“…The concept of X-ray scatter imaging has been investigated for material identification based on coherent scatter information for medical [1][2][3] and homeland security [4,5] applications. These studies have shown that scattered X-rays can provide higher signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) in identifying certain tissue types (medical) and sensitive materials (homeland security) than is currently possible using transmitted X-rays.…”

Support vector machines combined with wavelet-based feature extraction for identification of drugs hidden in anthropomorphic phantom

“…It has been illustrated that the Compton cross section is suppressed at small angles in literature [15]. Taking the complex detection condition of human body into consideration, 3-6°are chosen as suitable angles and the spectra at different angles are shown in the below Fig.…”

“…The SVM has been mentioned to identify airline baggage for two class problem [15]. However, a multi-classifier of SVMs is necessary for identifying various kinds of material.…”

Synchrotron-based coherent scatter x-ray projection imaging using an array of monoenergetic pencil beams

“…Madden et al 15 developed a coherent x-ray scattering CT system to enhance screening of explosives and other illegal materials. They showed that their system significantly reduced the rate of false alarms over traditional radiographic techniques.…”