Improved X-ray Cargo imaging by innovative background scattering quantification

通过创新的背景散射量化改进 X 射线货物成像

• 批准号: ST/T003324/1
• 负责人: David Matthew Cullen
• 金额: $ 2.79万
• 依托单位: University of Manchester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FT003324%2F1
• 关键词: Improved; ray; Cargo; imaging; innovative

X-ray screening is high priority for securing borders from the influx of firearms, narcotics, and contraband. The ability of anx-ray screening system to detect photons attenuated by dense cargo directly affects the radiographic image quality that anoperator uses to identify such illicit material. When screening cargo and vehicles, high-energy high-dose pulsed linearaccelerators are used to generate the x rays. The detection package integrates the signal over the duration of a singlepulse and this forms the basis of each pixel value in the image. However, with no means to reject low-energy photonsscattered into the detectors or electronic dark current, the signals include a large degree of noise that distorts the finalradiographic images. The technological advances in recent years and the exploitation of spectroscopic techniques presentan opportunity to utilise novel detector material and off-the-shelf fast electronic components to identify individual photons.This will vastly improve the performance of screening systems and increase image quality, particularly in areas of highattenuation. To this end, this project seeks to investigate new detector material, design, construct and test a prototypedetection system capable of photon counting in such high x-ray flux environments. Detector characterisation and design willbe carried out at the University of Manchester. Experimental investigations will require the use of the new Compact Linacfacility at Daresbury laboratory, capable of producing low-dose x-ray pulses so that algorithms to control the detectionpackage can be developed and the limitations obtained. The detection package will then be used at Rapiscan Systemsfacility at Stoke using a field-ready linac to prove its capabilities.

X 射线筛查对于确保边境免受枪支、毒品和违禁品流入至关重要。 X 射线筛查系统检测被密集货物衰减的光子的能力直接影响操作员用来识别此类非法材料的射线照相图像质量。在检查货物和车辆时，使用高能高剂量脉冲线性加速器来产生 X 射线。检测包在单脉冲持续时间内对信号进行积分，这构成了图像中每个像素值的基础。然而，由于无法抑制散射到探测器中的低能光子或电子暗电流，因此信号中包含大量噪声，导致最终放射线图像失真。近年来的技术进步和光谱技术的开发提供了利用新型探测器材料和现成的快速电子元件来识别单个光子的机会。这将极大地提高筛选系统的性能并提高图像质量，特别是在某些领域高衰减。为此，该项目旨在研究新的探测器材料，设计、构建和测试能够在如此高的 X 射线通量环境中进行光子计数的原型探测系统。探测器的表征和设计将在曼彻斯特大学进行。实验研究需要使用达斯伯里实验室的新型紧凑型直线加速器，该设施能够产生低剂量 X 射线脉冲，以便开发控制检测包的算法并获得限制。然后，该检测包将在位于斯托克的 Rapiscan Systems 设施中使用现场直线加速器来证明其功能。