Backscatter X-Rays Coming to Airports

TSMABob writes "Wired News reports that a recent, but expensive, technology of backscatter may grace airport security in the future. Nice Bombs Ya Got There is an article that explains how this technology is far superior to the metal detectors of today, pointing out that 'Richard Reid, convicted of trying to blow up a trans-Atlantic jetliner with explosives in his shoes, walked through metal detectors at Orly Airport in Paris several times before boarding the plane.' Read More about backscatter x-rays and their ability to pick up non-metallic objects."

Comments

Any good technical descriptions?

[sleepingsquirrel]

Since I'd never heard of X-Ray backscatter before I'd thought I'd do a google search, but I couldn't find much in the way of technical details of the how and why xray backscatter works. There didn't seem to be much for academic/research papers available. Is this a relatively new thing? The article mentions that the xrays are bounced off of you, but I wonder what dosage you would be exposed to. Are they using an xray source, or is it background radiation? These were my findings so far...

More pictures.
More detail as to how the machine works.

Re:Any good technical descriptions?

[SpeedRacer]

X-ray backscattering has been studied on an experimental level pretty extensively for quite a while. Perform a Google search on bremsstrahlung. Bremsstrahlung means "braking radiation." Electron bremsstrahlung is the most common. When an electron is deflected by the electron cloud of an atom, that acceleration produces an X-ray at an angle that is oblique to the original direction of the electron's path.

My Bachelor's degree is in Physics, and my junior/senior research back in 1987-1989 was on bremsstrahlung. You can find more on the subject at:

http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/physics/Bremsstrah lung.html

Re:Another version of the same story.

[msheppard]

heres a picture of the woman in the picture without the xrays.

M@

Sample Pictures

[Alric]

Here's a link to a company, AS-E, who manufactures some of the most respected Backscatter equipment.

For a sample of some slightly frightening pictures check out these images:

http://www.as-e.com/technology/image_1.html
If somebody has time, it might be good to provide a mirror for these images.

3 microREMs

[sleepingsquirrel]

According to the FAQfor one of these machines...

Q: How much radiant energy is a person exposed to?

A: Each full body scan of the SECURE 1000 produces approximately 3 microREMs of emission. This is equivalent to the exposure every person receives each five minutes from naturally occurring background environmental radioactivity.

Q: Is background radiation exposure really a good comparison?
A: Yes, because SECURE 1000 scanning and background radiation both expose a large portion of the body to a very low level of x-rays. The only difference is that background radiation has slightly higher x-ray energy resulting in deeper penetration.

Q: What about exposure levels for individuals who are frequent flyers or for employees in companies or high security facilities who have to be screened each day?
A: Under current international guidelines (such as the ANSI 43.17 Standard) up to 5000 scans per year can be conducted safely.

Q: Will SECURE 1000 detect objects in the body?
A: No, the x-rays penetrate only about 1/10 (0.1) inch of the skin. Any object that would be deeper than that level would not be detected. Under current regulations generally body cavity inspections must be performed by high dose medical x-ray systems in the presence of a medical professional or body cavity searches must be performed manually by trained enforcement personnel.

Re:Another version of the same story.

[dissy]

> ...of a seemingly shaven lady...

Just to point it out, these xrays bounce off the skin only.
So, she could possibly be as retro as the 70's downstairs, but you still couldnt tell.

Look at the top of her head, she does have a full head of hair there atleast, so you can see what I mean.