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The Practicality of Pulsed Fast Neutron Transmission Spectroscopy for Aviation Security (1999) / Chapter Skim
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Executive Summary
Pages 1-5

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From page 1...
... , the CCAS recommended that the FAA not pursue accelerator-based technologies for primary screening of checked baggage and not fund development projects for large accelerator-based hardware. The CCAS 1 concluded that the detection performance of these methods should be better understood before the FAA addressed airport integration issues and recommended that existing laboratory equipment be used to determine the detection limits of PFNTS for Class Al explosives (NRC, 1997~.
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From page 2...
... A direct comparison of the detection performance of x-ray CT and MDNR would require a significant increase in the statistical database for MDNR and a common test protocol. However, the available test results suggest that, even in the area of Class B explosives, the MDNR did not show a significant performance advantage over x-ray CT-based EDSs.
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From page 3...
... and analytic estimates of neutron attenuation, the panel believes that PFNTS does not have a realistic potential for screening the full spectrum of cargo containers or pallets to this threat level. Cargo containers filled with cargo with high hydrogen content would attenuate the neutron transmission to a level comparable to the room neutron scattering background, thus rendering neutron transmission-based detection approaches ineffective.
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From page 4...
... reduction of false alarm rates 3. development of alarm resolution procedures Research Facilities (consistent with the recommendations in the second interim report of the CCAS, this panel believes that if PFNTS continues to be pursued it should be researched and developed with current neutron sources, detector technology, and radiation modeling capabilities.
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From page 5...
... National Materials Advisory Board. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
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Key Terms

  • aviation security
  • alarm rate
  • primary screening
  • checked baggage
  • certification testing

  • neutron transmission
  • explosives detection
  • commercial aviation
  • pulsed fast
  • eds certification

  • fast neutron
  • detection technologies
  • false alarms
  • safety issues
  • alarm resolution

  • testing protocol
  • aviation administration
  • alarm rates
  • federal aviation
  • detection performance

  • transmission spectroscopy
  • current certification
  • airport implementation
  • awarded tensor
  • current shortfalls

  • baggage inspection
  • airline security
  • testing requirements
  • air cargo
  • tensor technology


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