Backscatter X-Ray Technology
 

[B]A backscatter X-ray, as its name implies, captures images created when objects or materials, especially organics, scatter X-ray photons. Items that are low on the periodic table (such as hydrogen, carbon and lithium) have a more powerful scattering effect on photons; higher-level periodic table elements (e.g. metals and the like) absorb more photons (and thus, have less scatter effects). A computer then measures, correlates and produces an image of the person or object scanned.

Backscatter images are photo-like in nature, making interpretation of the images quickly, and easily. Conventional X-ray images, on the other hand, are often blurry and difficult to interpret. In fact, product literature on backscatter X-ray machines use an image of a woman rendered without outer- or under-clothes as an example of what backscatter technology can do.[/B]