- Shaped Energy® (SE) is a patented high-energy transmission technology that penetrates dense sea containers while preserving safety.
- For the most detection information, SE systems are combined with Z Backscatter™ technology, for photo-like X-ray images that highlight explosives, plastic weapons, and drugs; and radiation detection technology, to combat dirty bombs and nuclear WMD.
- Shaped Energy's unique ability to "shape" X-rays filters out excess radiation, allowing for a safe environment within an extremely small footprint - ideal for congested ports.
Shaped Energy (SE) is a patented high-energy transmission technology that provides highly penetrating X-rays while preserving safety - ideal for inspecting dense sea containers. The proprietary technology is utilized in AS&E's OmniView™ Gantry high-energy X-ray inspection system.
Shaped Energy is a major breakthrough in X-ray inspection. With SE technology, a compact linear accelerator (linac) "shapes" the X-ray beam by filtering radiation. As a result, Shaped Energy technology allows very high penetration of dense cargoes (up to 14 inches of steel or 8.5 feet of oil) without excess radiation - eliminating the need for extensive exclusion zones, and making SE ideal for inspecting dense sea containers.
The Technology of "Shaping" Energy for Optimal Efficiency and Safety
The technology behind Shaped Energy begins with the proprietary design of our compact linear accelerator (linac). The linac output beam is heavily filtered (or shaped) in such a way as to remove unnecessary radiation without affecting the ability of the beam to penetrate dense objects. As a result, there is a much lower ambient radiation field around the inspection system, enabling the "open" nature and compact design of the system.
Adding Z Backscatter for Organics Detection
As X-rays hit an object, some are absorbed, producing a transmission X-ray image, and others are "scattered." A Z Backscatter image is formed from the X-rays that are scattered back toward the X-ray source through a process called Compton Scattering. Low atomic number, or "low Z" materials scatter these X-rays back toward the source and indicate low-density materials, such as plastic explosives, plastic weapons, drugs, or other organics.
AS&E's Shaped Energy technology "shapes" the X-ray beam by filtering the radiation — allowing for high penetration and safe levels of radiation. This chart displays the spectrum of photons transmitted through the use of Shaped Energy technology. The X-ray photons with energy below about 1,000 keV cause excessive radiation, yet contribute minimally to penetration.
