• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.97-106
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• 2018

Background: A cargo container scanner using a high-energy X-ray generates a fan beam X-ray to acquire a transmitted image. Because the generated X-rays by LINAC may affect the image quality and radiation protection of the system, it is necessary to acquire accurate information about the generated X-ray beam distribution. In this paper, a diode-based multi-channel spatial dose measuring device for measuring the X-ray dose distribution developed for measuring the high energy X-ray beam distribution of the container scanner is described. Materials and Methods: The developed high-energy X-ray spatial dose distribution measuring device can measure the spatial distribution of X-rays using 128 diode-based X-ray sensors. And precise measurement of the beam distribution is possible through automatic positioning in the vertical and horizontal directions. The response characteristics of the measurement system were evaluated by comparing the signal gain difference of each pixel, response linearity according to X-ray incident dose change, evaluation of resolution, and measurement of two-dimensional spatial beam distribution. Results and Discussion: As a result, it was found that the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of the response signal according to the incident position showed a difference of about 10%, and the response signal was linearly increased. And it has been confirmed that high-resolution and two-dimensional measurements are possible. Conclusion: The developed X-ray spatial dose measuring device was evaluated as suitable for dose measurement of high energy X-ray through confirmation of linearity of response signal, spatial uniformity, high resolution measuring ability and ability to measure spatial dose. We will perform precise measurement of the X-ray beamline in the container scanning system using the X-ray spatial dose distribution measuring device developed through this research.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.197-204
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• 2017

Background: X-ray imaging detectors for the nondestructive cargo container inspection using MeV-energy X-rays should accurately portray the internal structure of the irradiated container. Internal and external factors can cause noise, affecting image quality, and scattered radiation is the greatest source of noise. To obtain a high-performance transmission image, the influence of scattered radiation must be minimized, and this can be accomplished through several methods. The scatter rejection method using an anti-scatter grid is the preferred method to reduce the impact of scattered radiation. In this paper, we present an evaluation the characteristics of the signal and noise according to physical and material changes in the anti-scatter grid of the imaging detector used in cargo container scanners. Materials and Methods: We evaluated the characteristics of the signal and noise according to changes in the grid ratio and the material of the anti-scatter grid in an X-ray image detector using MCNP6. The grid was composed of iron, lead, or tungsten, and the grid ratio was set to 2.5, 12.5, 25, or 37.5. X-ray spectrum sources for simulation were generated by 6- and 9-MeV electron impacts on the tungsten target using MCNP6. The object in the simulation was designed using metallic material of various thicknesses inside the steel container. Using the results of the computational simulation, we calculated the change in the scatter-to-primary ratio and the signal-to-noise ratio improvement factor according to the grid ratio and the grid material, respectively. Results and Discussion: Changing the grid ratios of the anti-scatter grid and the grid material decreased the scatter linearly, affecting the signal-to-noise ratio. Conclusion: The grid ratio and material of the anti-scatter grid affected the response characteristics of a container scanner using high-energy X-rays, but to a minimal extent; thus, it may not be practically effective to incorporate anti-scatter grids into container scanners.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.639-646
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to present the algorithm to minimize the image noise caused by deterioration of high X-ray container inspection equipment and the faulty detection sensors, and to improvement quality of the container inspection images using MATLAB Toolbox. The daily checking images for the container inspection were used with the subject images and the noise caused by the horizontal and vertical images was evaluated with Root Mean Square (RMS) method, which is the most basic evaluation method of digital radiation image. Also, quality of the improved images was evaluated compared to quality of the orignal images. As a result, all RMS value of the improved images was lower then the original images by a mean of 13.5% in the horizontal images and 18.2% in the vertical images respectively. Also so did RMS value of the improved container images, by a mean of 13.4% in the horizontal images and 19.1% in the vertical images respectively. These findings can be verified objectively and visually and they would help the reading process of the container images be effective in Korea Customs Service.