- Z Backscatter™ technology - only available from AS&E — creates photo-like X-ray images revealing the threats that competitive systems miss, including explosives, plastic weapons, and drugs.
- Z Backscatter technology enables the deployment of simultaneous Radioactive Threat Detection (RTD) technology. Delivery of the RTD capability relies on the sensor array developed for Z Backscatter scanning.
- AS&E systems are safe and effective. "Flying Spot" allows AS&E systems to produce images while emitting a substantially lower radiation dose to both the cargo and the environment than other X-ray inspection systems.
The ABCs of Z
Proprietary Z Backscatter technology provides the highest clarity, photo-like images available, allowing accurate and rapid interpretation — unachievable with traditional transmission X-ray images alone.
Z Backscatter is AS&E's signature X-ray technology. Made possible by AS&E's patented Flying Spot, this technology is protected by more than 20 patents and is the proven approach for the discrimination of organic or "low Z" (i.e., low atomic number) materials such as explosives, drugs, cigarettes, and people, especially when hidden within a complex environment. Z Backscatter images reveal the shape and form of objects inside a container, providing context and clarity to expedite inspections. This photographic quality is unachievable with traditional transmission X-ray images alone.
With threats clearly visible in bright white, photo-like Z Backscatter images allow rapid image analysis, high throughput, and enhanced productivity while reducing operator fatigue.
The Compton Scattering Effect
AS&E's Z Backscatter inspection systems use electronically generated X-rays to examine an object. When X-rays interact with matter, they generally do one of three things:
- They pass through the object.
- They are absorbed by the object.
- They are scattered from the object.
Objects with greater density block or absorb more X-rays than objects with lesser density. These dense objects produce the characteristic shadow-like images similar to medical X-rays. These shadowgrams are produced by transmitted X-rays and are referred to as transmission
X-ray images.
By comparison, a Z Backscatter image captures data from X-ray photons that are scattered from the object undergoing inspection. This primary scattering effect is known as "Compton Scattering." X-ray photons scatter differently when they encounter different types of materials. Compton scattering is material-dependent, with the lower atomic number materials scattering more strongly than the higher numbered ones. (Higher atomic number elements are more likely to absorb X-rays, either before or after being scattered.)
Much organic material is low-density, and does not show up well on traditional transmission X-ray images. Organic matter, specifically explosive material, contains low atomic number (low Z) elements such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen. (Please note that there are other low Z materials besides organic matter, including metallic elements. For example, lithium - with an atomic number of 3 - will also produce a strong scatter effect.)
AS&E creates photo-like Z Backscatter images showing organic materials by directing a sweeping beam of X-rays at the object under examination, and then measuring and plotting the intensity of scattered X-rays as a function of the beam position. Z Backscatter, which utilizes the Compton Scattering Effect, is the most effective
X-ray technology for the detection of low Z materials - and only AS&E offers Z Backscatter on all of its Inspection Systems.
Akin to light reflection, Z Backscatter signals are particularly strong whenever the incident X-rays interact with explosives, plastics, and other biological items, which typically contain low Z materials. Even inorganic objects, such as metals, are given shape and form in
Z Backscatter images - making them easier to interpret than transmission images during X-ray evaluation.
The images created by Z Backscatter detectors are clear, uncluttered, and photo-like. They are much easier to interpret than traditional transmission X-ray images.
AS&E's Flying Spot - The Key to Z Backscatter Technology
- The Flying Spot allows AS&E to deliver Z Backscatter scanning, a proprietary innovation based on the Compton Scattering Effect.
- The photo-like images produced by Z Backscatter scanning are made possible by the patented Flying Spot.
- With the Flying Spot, AS&E systems can produce images while emitting a substantially lower radiation dose than competing X-ray inspection systems.
It is AS&E's patented Flying Spot technology that makes Z Backscatter scanning possible. Flying Spot technology allows the position of the
X-ray beam to be defined at every instant of time, so that any
Z Backscatter signal received is easily correlated with the particular region of the cargo undergoing inspection. As described above,
Z Backscatter's photo-like images are easy-to-interpret, revealing both the presence and exact position of low Z (organic) components of the cargo. This significantly enhances the ability of operators to quickly understand and interpret scan results.
In these AS&E images, side-by-side transmission and Z Backscatter images of the same LD-3 air cargo container prove the AS&E advantage. Two sacks of explosive simulant are hidden in the container. Note how the Z Backscatter image highlights the organic content of the simulated explosive and presents that image with photo-like clarity.
Images of an LD-3 air cargo container.
AS&E SYSTEMS WITH Z BACKSCATTER TECHNOLOGY
Z Backscatter technology can be used as a Standalone Technology, or in combination with other technologies, including Transmission, Shaped Energy™, and Radioactive Threat Detection.
CARGO AND VEHICLE INSPECTION AS&E's cargo line of products features mobile, relocatable, and fixed-site configurations, ideal for inspecting cars, vans, and trucks, as well as palletized cargo, and air and sea cargo containers for a variety of materials including explosives, drugs and weapons.
Z BACKSCATTER VAN™ (ZBV) is the world's top-selling cargo and vehicle inspection system - a low-cost, extremely safe and maneuverable screening system built into a delivery van. Its Z Backscatter X-ray technology provides high-quality, photo-like images that offer outstanding detection of organic materials for rapid screening of containers and vehicles for terrorist threats, trade fraud, and contraband.
Z PORTAL™ is a relocatable multi-view, drive-through inspection system available in two sizes and it can be configured with up to three Z Backscatter views, capable of scanning cars, vans, trucks, and their cargo for concealed threats and contraband.
OMNIVIEW™ GANTRY is the only multi-view relocatable system available today that combines 6.0 MeV high-energy transmission inspection plus three Z Backscatter views for left, right, and top-side imaging of cargo.
PARCEL, MAIL, AND BAGGAGE INSPECTION AS&E's parcel offering features multi-technology inspection that combines transmission and Z Backscatter X-rays for the most complete and accurate threat detection available.
GEMINI™ parcel system combines dual-energy transmission and Z Backscatter X-rays for the most complete and accurate threat detection available. The combination of technologies dramatically increases the likelihood of finding threats and contraband hidden in parcels.
SMARTCHECK™ AS&E's SmartCheck system is the industry's most comprehensive personnel X-ray screening system that clearly displays all types of threats and contraband concealed on a person, while ensuring their safety and privacy. The system displays both organic and inorganic materials revealing objects such as guns and knives, plastic and liquid explosives, composite weapons, and other hidden threats and contraband that other systems (such as metal detectors and trace detectors) can miss. To eliminate privacy concerns, SmartCheck is equipped with unique software to protect the privacy of screened persons while still effectively displaying threats.
