DUAL ISOTOPE NOTCH OBSERVER FOR ISOTOPE IDENTIFICATION, ASSAY AND IMAGING WITH MONO-ENERGETIC GAMMA-RAY SOURCES

A dual isotope notch observer for isotope identification, assay and imaging with mono-energetic gamma-ray sources and using nuclear resonance fluorescence includes a detector arrangement consisting of three detectors (56, 60, 62) downstream from the object (52) under observation. The latter detector (62), which operates as a beam monitor, is an integrating detector that monitors the total beam power arriving at its surface, the first detector (56) and the middle detector (60) each include an integrating detector surrounding a foil (54, 58). The foils (54, 58) of these two detectors (56, 60) are made of the same atomic material, but each foil (54, 58) is a different isotope, e.g., the first foil (54) may comprise U235 and second foil (58) may comprise U238, The integrating detectors surrounding these pieces of foil (54, 58) measure the total power scattered from the foil (54, 58) and can be similar in composition to the final beam monitor. Non-resonant photons will, after calibration, scatter equally from both foils.