Statistical Methods in the PINS System for Chemical Warfare Agent Identification 
 

Larry G. Blackwood 
 

The Portable Isotopic Neutron Spectroscopy (PINS) system is a non-destructive evaluation system used primarily for testing for Chemical warfare agents in various munitions.  PINS uses a neutron source to stimulate gamma ray emissions from the Chemical elements present in a munition.  Some of these gamma rays are collected and measured by a high purity germanium detector, producing a gamma ray spectrum or signature.  These data are subsequently analyzed to identify the fill compound or mixture. 
 

Statistical analysis plays a big part in the assessment of the data obtained by the PINS system.  Regression methods, non-linear least squares data fitting, statistical hypothesis testing, and various methods of classification analysis are all used.  This presentation will outline the data analysis process used in the PINS system, describe some of the statistical methods used, and provide some illustrated examples of their application.