Vogel H
Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Radiology, Lohmühlenstr. 5 20099 Hamburg, Germany.
Eur J Radiol. 2007 Aug;63(2):220-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2007.03.038. Epub 2007 Jul 13.
X-rays and gamma-rays are used to detect hidden persons in vehicles, containers, and railway wagons. They are produced with accelerators, X-ray tubes, cobalt 60 and caesium 137. Fan beams adjusted to a line of digital detectors produce the image. The resolution is sufficient to recognise a human being. The recognition of persons with transmission images is limited by superimposition; backscatter imaging produces clearer images but of one single layer only. The future will bring new applications of search for persons with X-rays. Crimes and terrorist attacks will induce added demand for security, where search with X-rays and gamma-rays will keep its important role or even increase it.