Detection of landmines by using 14 MeV neutron tagged beams

A large-area scanning system using 14 MeV tagged neutrons has been built. The associated 4He particles emitted in the D+T reaction are detected in an array of Parallel Plate Avalanche Counters that defines a scanning plane having about 10 × 100 cm2 area. Coincident gamma-rays are detected by 10 BaF2 scintillators. The capability of the system to determine the presence and the position of samples and to perform an on-line background subtraction is demonstrated. Test with landmines are also reported. This technique allows a significant improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio searching for hidden threat materials. The use with portable sealed-tube generators is foreseen.