The Detection of Explosive Materials: Review of Considerations and Methods

With increasing terrorist threats of different types, explosives detection for various types and forms of explosives is of growing interest. This paper reviews the broad array of possible methods of explosives detection, using both nuclear- and nonnuclear-based instruments, with their advantages and disadvantages for different scenarios. An explanation of the fundamental physics for each approach is accompanied by its general applicability and citations to the relevant scientific literature.