To detect bombs that may be smuggled onto airplanes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will soon require all major airports in the United States to install thermal neutron analyzers. The thermal neutron analyzer will bombard baggage with low-energy neutrons, converting some of the nitrogen-14 nuclei to nitrogen-15, with simultaneous emission of γ rays. Because nitrogen content is usually high in explosives, detection of a high dosage of γ rays will suggest that a bomb may be present.
(a) Write an equation for the nuclear process.
(b) Compare this technique with the conventional X-ray detection method.