Improving the detection of shielded contraband by advancing algorithms and systems (ideas) for mobile active interrogation using neutrons (main)

The University of Tennessee was awarded a $1,000,000 cooperative agreement from the Department of Homeland Security's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction program for the period of September 17, 2021 through September 16, 2026. The award will support research under the Homeland Security Research, Development, Testing, Evaluation and Demonstration of Technologies Related to Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction program (CFDA 97.077) to improve the detection of shielded contraband through advancing algorithms and systems for mobile active interrogation using neutrons (MAIN). As part of the award, Oklahoma State University will receive subawards totaling an undisclosed amount to develop algorithms for pulse shape discrimination at high count rates and statistical signal processing for interference and background modeling and subtraction, as well as data fusion algorithms leveraging prior information from X-ray scans. Both institutions will integrate the research into education and outreach programs.