Generation of diffraction signature of item within object

Abstract

A diffraction system configured to generate a diffraction signature based upon an angular disbursement of radiation is provided. In some embodiments, the diffraction system comprises a radiation source comprising a radiographic isotope configured to natural emit radiation due to decay. In some embodiment, the diffraction system is part of an object identification system that comprises one or more other radiation imaging modalities, such as a CT system and/or a line-scan system. By way of example, the one or more other radiation imaging modalities may perform an initial examination of an object to generate data indicative of the object. The data can be analyzed to identify an item of interest within the object, which can subsequently be examined by the diffraction system to generate a diffraction signature of the item. The diffraction signature of the item can be compared to known diffraction signatures of known items to characterize the item.

1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to enable a processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving first image data representative of an item of interest within an object;   detecting a potential threat responsive to a threshold property of the item of interest exhibited by the first image data;   receiving second image data representative of the item of interest; and   detecting a threat responsive to a property of the item of interest exhibited by the first image data or the second image data.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the property comprises a first diffraction signature of the item of interest exhibited by the first image data or the second image data. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising: comparing a second diffraction signature of the item of interest with known diffraction signatures associated with known threat items. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 3 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising: generating an alert responsive to detecting that the second diffraction signature of the item of interest matches the known diffraction signature of a known threat item. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising adding indicator information to the second image data at locations corresponding to the item of interest. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 5 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising displaying the second image data having the indicator information at a workstation. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising sounding an audible alarm responsive to the detecting the threat. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising issuing an alert to a terminal when a threat is detected. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8 , wherein the terminal is configured to alert security personnel of the threat. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1 , wherein the processor-executable instructions are configured to enable the processor to perform operations comprising flagging the item of interest when a threat is detected. 
     
     
         11 . A method of detecting a threat within an object comprising:
 receiving first image data representative of an object;   identifying an item of interest within the object based on a first property of the item of interest from the first image data representative of the object;   receiving image data representative of the item of interest; and   identifying a threat item based on a second property of the item of interest from the image data representative of the item of interest by comparing the second property with properties of known threat items.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising alerting an operator of a presence of a potential threat when the item of interest is identified. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising alerting an operator of a presence of a threat when the second property of the item of interest matches a property of a known threat item. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first property and the second property comprise molecular composition of the item of interest. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first property and the second property comprise volumetric data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first property and the second property comprise two-dimensional data. 
     
     
         17 . A method of determining a molecular composition of an item within an object comprising:
 providing radiation at a power level of at least 150 keV   analyzing the radiation that interacts with an item within an object;   generating a diffraction signature of the item; and   determining the molecular composition of the item from the diffraction signature.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising comparing the molecular composition of the item with molecular compositions of known threat items. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising generating an alarm when the molecular composition of the item matches the molecular composition of at least one of the known threat items.