Analysis using neutrons

The invention described in this patent could be used by airport security, for example, to detect explosives in luggage. Neutron analysis is used to detect the presence of a target element amongst material within an analysis region. When the target element concentration exceeds a pre-determined level, the device gives out an indication signal. Significant improvements have been made in the need to achieve reasonably low false alarm rates with low rates of failure to detect the presence of explosives, for example. Many other applications for this technique are predicted such as sorting material streams such as ores. (UK)