NUCLEAR MAGNETISM DETECTION OF NONMETALLIC MINES

1One of the most difficult problems in mine detection is distringuishing nonmetallic mines from other inhomogeneities in the soil. Nuclear magnetism provides a unique signature for common military explosives, a signature which is detectable in the presence of time-varying fields. In Phase I we propose to demonstrate the feasibility of an explosives detection and identification method based upon nuclear magnetism. This method is readily adaptable to the single-sided geometry required for mine detection. Preliminary calculations indicate that a nuclear magnetism detection system of modest size and weight will be able to detect less than one half pound of trinitrotoluene (TNT) at a distance of one foot with low (less than 1%) false-alarm and false-safe rates.