Material recognition using fission gamma rays

Material recognition is studied by measuring the transmission spectrum of 252Cf fission gamma rays in the energy range Eγ=0.1–5.5 MeV for 0.1-MeV-wide energy bins through a number of elementary samples. Each transmitted spectrum is compared with a library of reference spectra for different elements providing the possibility of material identification. In case of elemental samples with known thickness, this procedure allows the identification of the sample Z with uncertainty typically lower than 3 Z-units over a wide range of elements. Applications to composite materials are also reported.