August 11, 2006

Photos taken from the Z Backscatter X-Ray machine. via Coudal
posted by Argh 18 years ago
  • You may view and download examples of AS&E's Z Backscatter and transmission X-ray images by completing the following form. Apparently they're so scared of their website visitors that they have to send the applications through this X-ray device.
  • Are these pictures taken by the yellow scanners that are present at almost every Candian-US border?
  • Well, I Candian.
  • Neat. From here AS&E's Z Backscatter is a patented technology based on the X-ray Compton Scattering effect. Z Backscatter works by detecting and highlighting "low Z" materials (items that contain low atomic number elements such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen). Low Z materials include explosives, plastic weapons, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The Z Backscatter personnel screening system displays these items as bright and well-defined, making it easy to identify hidden materials, and to clearly determine which might be security threats. The system is unique as it is also able to reveal threats such as metal weapons and bomb-detonating wires (items that contain "high Z" elements -- those with high atomic number). The system operates by detecting scattered X-rays but it also recognizes the lack of scattering that comes when X-rays are absorbed. These high Z or metal objects are displayed as dark objects on the person scanned. Thus the system is able to display all metallic and non-metallic threats and contraband anywhere on a person's body. AS&E holds more than 20 patents on Z Backscatter technology.
  • Well! See if I ever smuggle people, drugs, or explosives out of Canada again! Hm!
  • Well... uh... they'll never confiscate my Playboys!
  • I wonder what kind of xray dose the people hidden the vehicles get.