Single Pixel Neutron Camera Using Compressive Sensing

The ability to quickly and cheaply localize radiation sources is incredibly important in the national security field. The ever increasing amount of intercontinental shipping makes cargo containers a likely vector for the transfer of prohibited material. Current methodology for detection of neutron sources suffers from size and expense limitations. The single pixel neutron camera offers a simple design that is inexpensive to implement allowing for an increase in detection points. The compressive sensing framework provides fast and accurate localization of sources among surrounding shielded material. Additionally, this design frees the detector from volume restrictions allowing for increased detection efficiency. This makes finding weak sources more likely. Finally, the focus is shifted from detector to collimator design, which is generally simpler and has fewer restrictions. Using MCNP numerical simulations, various source geometries were imaged and localized. The collimator featured a simple, multiplex type design that allows taking measurements at each individual pixel location. The ability of a compressive sensing based device was proven to achieve the objectives outlined above. Additionally, the simulations of the design show that sources can be localized using ~ 5% sampling rate. This means fast and accurate identification of sources even in heavily shielded containers. Single pixel neutron detection devices are shown to be ideal for cheap and durable course spatial detection