Detection of explosive remnants of war by neutron thermalisation

The HYDAD-D landmine detector (Brooks and Drosg, 2005) has been modified and field-tested for 17 months in a variety of soil conditions. Test objects containing about the same mass of hydrogen (20 g) as small explosive remnants of war, such as antipersonnel landmines, were detected with efficiency 100% when buried at cover depths up to 10 cm. The false alarm rate under the same conditions was 9%. Plots of detection efficiency versus false alarm rate are presented.

► A new version of the HYDAD-D antipersonnel landmine detector is described.
► Field tests were carried out for 17 months under different conditions.
► Dummy antipersonnel mines were detected with 100% efficiency at cover depths up to 10 cm.
► Results are presented as plots of landmine detection efficiency versus false alarm rate.