Abstract:

Hydrogen Density Anomaly Detectors (HYDAD) are sensitive to hydrogen-rich objects and can be used to detect landmines via the hydrogen in the explosive and the plastic material contained in these mines [1]. The main components of the HYDAD-D landmine detector [1, 2] are an isotopic neutron source, two identical slow neutron detectors (for example, ³He-proportional counters), some electronics, a computer (for example, a laptop) and suitable data-reduction software. Laboratory tests demonstrated [1, 2] that HYDAD-D can detect antipersonnel landmines equivalent to the IAEA dummy landmine DLM2 (200 g) [1] when buried at depths up to 15 cm in dry sand. Further tests of HYDAD-D have been carried out in the grounds of iThemba LABS, South Africa, in conditions similar to those encountered in real demining operations. Two types of HYDAD-D systems have been tested: systems incorporating motor driven scanners; and a hand-held system. The results obtained in these tests are presented and discussed. An assessment will be made of the advantages and limitations of HYDAD-D and the advantages that may be achieved by using this system in combination with other types of landmine detector will be discussed.

[1] F.D. Brooks and M. Drosg, “The HYDAD-D antipersonnel landmine detector”, Appl. Rad. Isot., 63 (2005) 565.