More protection against explosives and nuclear material in freight containers
Illegally transported, conventional explosives and nuclearly relevant or radioactive materials can enable international terror organizations to transport hazardous materials for attacks to any place in the world. For improved protection against such hazardous freight, scientists of the PTB and an Israeli research center have developed a cargo inspection system which detects conventional explosives – and in addition, also drugs – with the aid of neutron radiography. It is intended that the research work should lead to permanently installed facilities at airports and border crossing points, at which containers and cargo pallets with freight can be inspected fully automatically. The research work was supported by the "Science for Peace" Programme of NATO. In a second step, the scientists now plan to utilize gamma radiation, in addition to neutron radiation, to be able to also detect nuclear and radioactive materials.more...