Detection of Dangerous Materials and Illicit Objects in Cargoes and Baggage: Current Tools, Existing Problems and Possible Solutions

The paper is devoted to reviewing the existing means of detecting the transportation of dangerous materials and illicit objects. We analyse the currently available systems, the physical background of the corresponding techniques, and their advantages and limitations. Our purpose is to provide a broad overview of the possibilities in this field and to present our vision of what is the most appropriate response to the challenges of the modern world with respect to the increasing threat of terrorist attacks and illicit transportation of explosives, weapons, Special Nuclear Materials, and illicit narcotic drugs. To meet this objective, we compare various techniques, discuss how they correspond to the current needs, and propose a possible solution to the existing serious problems.