空港における保安技術の研究開発動向 : 核四重極共鳴を用いた爆薬検知  [in Japanese] Trend of Aviation Security Technology : Explosive Detection using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance  [in Japanese]

現在,空港の保安検査としては,X線を用いた手荷物検査及び金属探知を用いた旅客検査が行われている.しかしながら,X線検査は手荷物内物質の形状及びX線透過率から爆薬の有無を判断するため自動判定が困難であり,金属探知においては非金属の隠匿武器等を検出できないという課題がある.海上技術安全研究所においては,現行の検査手法の課題を解決する技術として,核四重極共鳴(NQR)を用いた爆薬検知技術及び,ミリ波を用いた非金属隠匿武器等の検知技術の研究開発を行った.各技術を用いた検査装置試作機を製作し羽田空港保安検査場において実証試験を行った結果,その有用性が示された.

Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance (NQR) technique is expected as a promising method for explosive detection, since some major explosives are known to possess the substance-specific NQR frequency. We have developed a prototype of NQR explosive detection system and examined the applicability of NQR technique to explosive detection for aviation security. A blind test of NQR as well as X-ray baggage screening tests were conducted with 50 baggage-samples containing hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX: Research Department eXplosive) or non-explosive materials at the security-check gate in the airport. The resulting false positive rate of NQR screening was about one-tenth of that of the conventional X-ray inspection. It indicates that the security-check by NQR explosive detection technique is useful for the aviation security.