NCJ Number
131326
Journal
Terrorism Volume: 13 Issue: 4-5 Dated: (July-October 1990) Pages: 369-372
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a contractor to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), is developing the thermal neutron analysis (TNA) Explosive Detection System (EDS).
Abstract
The precise and rapid EDS using the TNA technique was developed by exploiting recent advances in automated signal processing. The system has been tested at several California airports with a 95-percent accuracy rate and 5-percent false positive response. The EDS works at a rate of 10 bags per minute and can detect small quantities of explosives. Several units are already in place in American airports and others are currently being produced. This SAIC representative answers criticisms concerning the false positive rate and operational issues related to baggage and passenger flows. Other concerns about the radioactive nature of the TNA equipment are unfounded; test detonations of large quantities of explosives inside the equipment did not damage the integrity of the source capsule or result in any leakage of radioactive material.