Systems and methods for detecting contraband using quadrupole resonance and X-ray detection
A contraband detection system is provided. The contraband detection system includes an X-ray system including a front X-ray transmitter/detector and a rear X-ray transmitter/detector. The contraband detection system further includes a quadrupole resonance (QR) system comprising a first QR coil, and a second QR coil, wherein the first and second QR coils are located between the front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors, and wherein the first and second QR coils are constructed from a material having a low mass attenuation coefficient and a high conductivity such that the first and second QR coils do not substantially interfere with transmitting X-rays and detecting emitted photons using the X-ray system. The contraband detection system further comprise a computing device coupled to the X-ray system and the QR system, the computing device configured to detect contraband based on signals received from the X-ray system and the QR system.
1. A contraband detection system comprising:
an X-ray system comprising:
a front X-ray transmitter/detector;
a rear X-ray transmitter/detector, wherein said front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors are each configured to at least one of transmit X-rays and detect emitted photons to generate at least one image of a subject standing in a subject region;
a quadrupole resonance (QR) system comprising:
a first QR coil; and
a second QR coil, wherein said first and second QR coils are located between said front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors, and wherein said first and second QR coils are constructed from a material having a low mass attenuation coefficient and a high conductivity such that said first and second QR coils do not substantially interfere with transmitting X-rays and detecting emitted photons using said X-ray system; and
a computing device coupled to said X-ray system and said QR system, said computing device configured to detect contraband at the subject region based on signals received from said X-ray system and said QR system.
2. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second QR coils is constructed from aluminum.
3. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second QR coils is constructed from carbon nanowires.
4. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising:
a first shield panel coupled to an interior face of said front X-ray transmitter/detector;
a second shield panel coupled to an interior face of said rear X-ray transmitter/detector, wherein said first and second shield panels facilitate shielding said first and second QR coils from external interference.
5. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein at least one of said first and second shield panels is constructed from aluminum.
6. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein at least one of said first and second shield panels is constructed from carbon nanowires.
7. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first QR coil is located between said front X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject, and wherein said second QR coil is located between said front X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject region.
8. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first and second QR coils are both located between said front X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject region.
9. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first and second QR coils are both located between said rear X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject region.
10. A contraband detection system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said computing device is further configured to generate an alert when contraband is detected in the subject region.
11. A security scanner for detecting contraband located in or on a subject standing in a subject region, said security scanner comprising:
a front X-ray transmitter/detector;
a rear X-ray transmitter/detector, wherein said front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors are each configured to at least one of transmit X-rays and detect emitted photons to generate at least one image of the subject;
a first QR coil; and
a second QR coil, wherein said first and second QR coils are located between said front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors, and wherein said first and second QR coils are constructed from a material having a low mass attenuation coefficient and a high conductivity such that said first and second QR coils do not substantially interfere with transmitting X-rays and detecting emitted photons using said front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors.
12. A security scanner in accordance with claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first and second QR coils is constructed from aluminum.
13. A security scanner in accordance with claim 11 , wherein at least one of said first and second QR coils is constructed from carbon nanowires.
14. A security scanner in accordance with claim 11 , further comprising:
a first shield panel coupled to an interior face of said front X-ray transmitter/detector;
a second shield panel coupled to an interior face of said rear X-ray transmitter/detector, wherein said first and second shield panels facilitate shielding said first and second QR coils from external interference.
15. A security scanner in accordance with claim 11 , wherein said first QR coil is located between said front X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject region, and wherein said second QR coil is located between said front X-ray transmitter/detector and the subject region.
16. A method for detecting contraband located on or in a subject, said method comprising:
scanning the subject using an X-ray system, wherein the X-ray system includes a front X-ray transmitter/detector and a rear X-ray transmitter/detector, the front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors each configured to at least one of transmit X-rays and detect emitted photons to generate at least one image of the subject;
scanning the subject using a quadrupole resonance (QR) system, wherein the QR system includes a first QR coil, and a second QR coil, wherein the first and second QR coils are located between the front and rear X-ray transmitter/detectors, and wherein the first and second QR coils are constructed from a material having a low mass attenuation coefficient and a high conductivity such that the first and second QR coils do not substantially interfere with transmitting X-rays and detecting emitted photons using the X-ray system; and
detecting whether contraband is present based on at least one of the X-ray scan and the QR scan.
17. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said scanning the subject using an X-ray system and said scanning the subject using a QR system are performed substantially simultaneously.
18. A method in accordance with claim 16 , wherein said scanning the subject using an X-ray system, and said scanning the subject using a QR system are performed with the subject postured in a single pose.
19. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising shielding the first and second QR coils from external interference using a first shield panel coupled to an interior face of the front X-ray transmitter/detector and a second shield panel coupled to an interior face of the rear X-ray transmitter/detector.
20. A method in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising generating an alert when contraband is detected.