Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Simulation and design of disc-type beam-shaping assembly for X-ray back scatter whole-body imaging system

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Z. Alipour
M.R. Pahlavani

Department of Physics, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran., P.O.Box: 47415-416, Mazandaran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2024.1592.2029
Abstract
The X-ray backscatter imaging systems have unique inspection capabilities and practical features due to their high sensitivity to organic materials, low radiation dose, and ability to scan from one side of the object. The scan is performed by an X-ray pencil beam. The shape, size, and intensity of the beam play a significant role in the image quality and the radiation dose received by the person. To create a pencil-shaped beam, the cone-shaped beam of the X-ray tube passes through a fan beam collimator and a chopper wheel. Different designs were simulated to optimize the fan beam collimator and chopper wheel, considering factors such as length and gap of the collimator, as well as the slit width of the disc using the MCNPX2.6 code. To minimize leakage dose, a 4-mm tungsten/copper alloy disc was determined to be the most suitable in terms of thickness and material. Based on the simulation results from image quality tests, it was found that a collimator with a length of 20 cm, a 1 mm gap, and a 1 mm slit width of the disc produced the most optimal X-ray beam for backscatter whole-body imaging systems. The best image quality was achieved at a disc rotational speed of 1500 rpm and a relative speed of vertical movement at 40 cm/s.

Highlights

  1. Wrobel N, Kolkoori S, Zscherpel U. Innovative X-ray Backscatter Technique for Security Applications: Detection of Dangerous Materials. 11th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing. 2014.

 

  1. Arodzero A, Alreja V, Boucher S. X-ray Backscatter Security Inspection with Enhanced Depth of Effective Detection and Material Discrimination. Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference. 2021. doi: 10.1109/NSS/MIC44867. 2021.9875935.

 

  1. Smith S.W. X-ray Backscatter Detection System, U.S. Patent 5181234. 1991 May.

 

  1. Azimi M, Yahaghi E, Roshan M, Bayat E, Mirzapour M, Movafeghi A, Rokrok B. Contrast improvement of backscatter X-ray images by total variation method. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2023;103(2):121-129 [In Persian].

 

  1. An G, Park J, Seo H. Design optimization of backscatter X-ray security scanner based on pencil-beam scanning. International Workshop on Radiation Imaging Detectors. 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/18/01/ C01004.

 

  1. Herr M.D, McInerney J.J, Lamser D.G. A Flying Spot X-ray System for Compton Backscatter Imaging. IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging. 1994;13(3):461–469. doi: 10.1109/42. 310877.

 

  1. Sunwoo Y, Kwang H.K, Yun Y. Detection of Buried Landmine with X-ray Backscatter Technique. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. 2006;568(1):388-392.

 

  1. Pelowitz D.B. Users′ manual versión of MCNPX2.6.0. LANL. LA-CP-07-1473. 2008.

 

  1. Shultis J.K, Faw R.E. An MCNP primer Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Kansas State University. Copyright. 2004-2010.

 

  1. Briesmeister J.F. MCNP- A General Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code Version4C. Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, USA, LA-13709-M. 2000.

 

  1. XRB160PN480/CT Monoblock Industrial X-Ray-Generators. https://www.spellmanhv.com/en/high-voltage-power-supplies/XRB160PN480.

 

  1. ANSI/HPS-N43.17 standard. Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation. American National Standards Institute.2009. http://hps.org/hpssc/index.html.

 

  1. ANSI N42.47. American National Standard for Measuring the Imaging Performance of X-ray and Gamma-ray Systems for Security Screening of Humans. American National Standards Institute. 2010.

 

  1. Etter D.M, Kuncicky D.C, Hull D.W. Introduction to MATLAB. Prentice Hall. 20002.

Keywords

Fan beam collimator
Chopper wheel
X-ray tube
Image quality
MCNPX2.6 code
  1. Wrobel N, Kolkoori S, Zscherpel U. Innovative X-ray Backscatter Technique for Security Applications: Detection of Dangerous Materials. 11th European Conference on Non-Destructive Testing. 2014.

 

  1. Arodzero A, Alreja V, Boucher S. X-ray Backscatter Security Inspection with Enhanced Depth of Effective Detection and Material Discrimination. Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference. 2021. doi: 10.1109/NSS/MIC44867. 2021.9875935.

 

  1. Smith S.W. X-ray Backscatter Detection System, U.S. Patent 5181234. 1991 May.

 

  1. Azimi M, Yahaghi E, Roshan M, Bayat E, Mirzapour M, Movafeghi A, Rokrok B. Contrast improvement of backscatter X-ray images by total variation method. Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology. 2023;103(2):121-129 [In Persian].

 

  1. An G, Park J, Seo H. Design optimization of backscatter X-ray security scanner based on pencil-beam scanning. International Workshop on Radiation Imaging Detectors. 2022. doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/18/01/ C01004.

 

  1. Herr M.D, McInerney J.J, Lamser D.G. A Flying Spot X-ray System for Compton Backscatter Imaging. IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging. 1994;13(3):461–469. doi: 10.1109/42. 310877.

 

  1. Sunwoo Y, Kwang H.K, Yun Y. Detection of Buried Landmine with X-ray Backscatter Technique. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A. 2006;568(1):388-392.

 

  1. Pelowitz D.B. Users′ manual versión of MCNPX2.6.0. LANL. LA-CP-07-1473. 2008.

 

  1. Shultis J.K, Faw R.E. An MCNP primer Dept. of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. Kansas State University. Copyright. 2004-2010.

 

  1. Briesmeister J.F. MCNP- A General Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code Version4C. Los Alamos National Laboratory Report, USA, LA-13709-M. 2000.

 

  1. XRB160PN480/CT Monoblock Industrial X-Ray-Generators. https://www.spellmanhv.com/en/high-voltage-power-supplies/XRB160PN480.

 

  1. ANSI/HPS-N43.17 standard. Radiation Safety for Personnel Security Screening Systems Using X-Ray or Gamma Radiation. American National Standards Institute.2009. http://hps.org/hpssc/index.html.

 

  1. ANSI N42.47. American National Standard for Measuring the Imaging Performance of X-ray and Gamma-ray Systems for Security Screening of Humans. American National Standards Institute. 2010.

 

  1. Etter D.M, Kuncicky D.C, Hull D.W. Introduction to MATLAB. Prentice Hall. 20002.

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