Testing of Vehicle Radiation Portal Monitors For the False Alarm Rate

We address the problem of the estimation of the false alarm rate of vehicle radiation portal monitors (RPM). The paper discusses the results obtained by two different ways of testing: i) using the timing circuit which periodically switches on the occupancy detector for a definite time interval; and ii) using the passages of empty containers through the monitor. It is shown that the consideration of the actual operation conditions of a monitor essentially increases the rate of the radioactive source detection with an acceptable level of the false alarm rate.