High-resolution neutron microtomography with noiseless neutron counting detector

The improved collimation and intensity of thermal and cold neutron beamlines combined with recent advances in neutron imaging devices enable high-resolution neutron radiography and microtomography, which can provide information on the internal structure of objects not achievable with conventional X-ray imaging techniques. Neutron detection efficiency, spatial and temporal resolution (important for the studies of dynamic processes) and low background count rate are among the crucial parameters defining the quality of radiographic images and tomographic reconstructions. The unique capabilities of neutron counting detectors with neutron-sensitive microchannel plates (MCPs) and with Timepix CMOS readouts providing high neutron detection efficiency (∼70% for cold neutrons), spatial resolutions ranging from 15 to 55 μm and a temporal resolution of ∼1 μs—combined with the virtual absence of readout noise—make these devices very attractive for high-resolution microtomography. In this paper we demonstrate the capabilities of an MCP-Timepix detection system applied to microtomographic imaging, performed at the ICON cold neutron facility of the Paul Scherrer Institute. The high resolution and the absence of readout noise enable accurate reconstruction of texture in a relatively opaque wood sample, differentiation of internal tissues of a fly and imaging of individual ∼400 μm grains in an organic powder encapsulated in a ∼700 μm thick metal casing.     

LiF crystals as high spatial resolution neutron imaging detectors

Neutron imaging by color center formation in LiF crystals was applied to a sensitivity indicator (SI) as a standard samples for neutron radiography. The SI was exposed to a 5 mm pinhole-collimated thermal neutron beam with an LiF crystal and a neutron imaging plate (NIP) for 120 min in the JRR-3M thermal neutron radiography facility. The image in the LiF crystal was read out using a laser confocal microscope. All gaps were clearly observed in images for both the LiF crystal and the NIP. The experimental results showed that LiF crystals have excellent characteristics as neutron imaging detectors in areas such as high spatial resolution.     

On coherence in neutron imaging

The variety of imaging signals in neutron radiography and tomography became quite large compared to the pure absorption and scattering contrast in neutron radiographies and topographies in the early sixties or seventies of the last century. The diversity of absorption based techniques for neutron radiography and tomography is comparable to coherence based imaging techniques such as phase contrast, differential phase contrast, dark field imaging, diffraction enhanced contrast, refraction contrast, ultra small angle scattering contrast, grating interferometry and crystal interferometry, also the spin of the neutron was successfully used for imaging [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11] and [12]. We show which effects (total reflection, diffraction, refraction) contribute to e.g. a step boundary or a phase boundary. Taking this simple object, one can learn to understand the imaging procedure and what is displayed in a radiograph.     

Evaluations of the new LiF-scintillator and optional brightness enhancement films for neutron imaging

Japan Atomic Energy Agency has developed the neutron scintillator jointly with Chichibu Fuji Co., Ltd. In this study, we evaluated the new ZnS(Ag):Al/⁶Li scintillator developed for neutron imaging. It was confirmed that the brightness increased by about double while maintaining equal performance for the spatial resolution as compared with a conventional scintillator. High frame-rate imaging using a high-speed video camera system and this new scintillator made it possible to image beyond 10 000 frames per second while still having enough brightness. This technique allowed us to obtain a high-frame-rate visualization of oil flow in a running car engine. Furthermore, we devised a technique to increase the light intensity of reception for a camera by adding brightness enhancement films on the output surface of the scintillator. It was confirmed that the spatial resolution degraded more than double, but the brightness increased by about three times.     

Energy selective neutron imaging in solid state materials science

In neutron radiography and tomography, the image contrast is caused by a variation of the effective macroscopic cross-section over the sample volume. Narrowing the energy band of the polychromatic neutron beam in the cold energy range increases the image contrast significantly and opens an access to the crystallographic structure of the sample. Here, we show that crystallographic microstructures of welded stainless steel samples can be visualized and quantified in two and three dimensions by the energy selective neutron imaging. The energy selective neutron radiography maps preferred crystallite orientations over the sample and provides energy values of the highest image contrast. Furthermore, a high contrast neutron tomography visualizes preferred crystallite orientations over the whole macroscopic sample volume.     

First study of macroscopic neutron dark field imaging using scattering grids

Instead of using the phase grating concept for dark field imaging, macroscopic scattering grids were employed at the ANTARES neutron imaging facility. Two Cadmium grids with a 1 mm gap and 1.2 mm bar were adjusted in a distance of only a few cm in order to block the direct beam. Thus, by placing the samples between these two grids only neutrons that were scattered at the samples were transmitted. A linear motion of the coupled grids allowed scanning across the samples and obtaining complete scattering projections, which delivered surprisingly sharp images. The geometric relation between grids permits determination of the transmitted scattering angles.     

Evaluation of water distribution in a small operating fuel cell using neutron color image intensifier

Neutron radiography is one of the useful tools for visualizing water behavior in operating fuel cells. In order to observe the detailed information about the water distribution in membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and gas diffusion layer (GDL) in fuel cells, a high performance neutron imaging system is required. A neutron color image intensifier (NCII) is a high spatial resolution and high sensitivity neutron image detector. We have developed an imaging system using an NCII for visualizing the behavior of water in fuel cells. The pixel size of the imaging system is around 4.7 μm in the small view field. By using this system, water distribution of a small sized fuel cell was observed continuously every 20 s at the Thermal Neutron Radiography Facility (TNRF). In the results, the water area appears from the GDL and MEA regions, and expanded to the cathode side channel with time. However, the voltage was gradually reduced with time, and steeply dropped. It is considered that the reduction and the drop of voltage were caused by a blockage of gas flow due to accumulation of water in the GDL and the gas flow channel in the cathode side.     

Cross-section model for cold neutron scattering in solid and liquid methane

Incoherent neutron scattering cross-sections for solid CH₄ in the temperature range of 20.4–90.7 K and liquid CH₄ at temperatures between 90.7 and 111.7 K are evaluated. A space–time correlation approach is used to describe a double-differential scattering cross-section which is basically expressed by a generalized frequency distribution. The cross-section model includes molecular translations and rotations as well as intramolecular vibrations. The former are concerned with very short-time free-gas like translation, short-lived vibration and long-time diffusion (only in liquid state). The latter consists of short-time free rotation and long-time isotropic rotational diffusion. Numerical calculations on double-differential and total cross-sections are carried out for incident neutron energies covered 0.1 μeV to 10 eV. Good agreement with experimental results at many different temperatures is found.     

The ICON beamline - A facility for cold neutron imaging at SINQ

The beamline for Imaging with COld Neutrons (ICON) at Swiss spallation neutron source (SINQ) at Paul Scherrer Institut has a flexible design to meet the requests from a wide user community. The current status of the beamline and its characteristics are described. The instrumentation includes three experimental positions from which two are equipped with digital camera based imaging detectors. Tomographic imaging is among the standard methods available at the beamline. Advanced methods such as energy-selective imaging and grating interferometry are available as instrument add-ons which are easily installed.     

Measurement of neutron flux and beam divergence at the cold neutron guide system of the new Munich research reactor FRM-II

A sophisticated neutron guide system has been installed at the new Munich neutron source FRM-II to transport neutrons from the D₂ cold neutron source to several instruments, which are situated in a separate neutron guide hall. The guide system takes advantage of supermirror coatings and includes a worldwide unique “twisted” guide for a desired phase space transformation of the neutron beam. During the initial reactor commissioning in summer 2004, the integral and differential neutron flux as well as the distribution of beam divergence at the exit of two representative and the twisted neutron guide were measured using time-of-flight spectroscopy and gold-foil activation. The experimental results can be compared to extensive simulation calculations based on MCNP and McStas. The investigated guides fulfill the expectations of providing high neutron fluxes and reveal good quality with respect to the reflective coatings and the installation precision.     

First demonstration of neutron resonance absorption imaging using a high-speed video camera in J-PARC

The neutron resonance absorption imaging technique with a high-speed video camera was successfully demonstrated at the beam line NOBORU, J-PARC. Pulsed neutrons were observed through several kinds of metal foils as a function of neutron time-of-flight by utilizing a high-speed neutron radiography system. A set of time-dependent images was obtained for each neutron pulse, and more than a thousand sets of images were recorded in total. The images with the same time frame were summed after the measurement. Then the authors obtained a set of images having enhanced contrast of sample foils around the resonance absorption energies of cobalt (132 eV), cadmium (28 eV), tantalum (4.3 and 10 eV), gold (4.9 eV) and indium (1.5 eV).     

The HANARO neutron reflectometer with horizontal sample geometry; engineering designs and performance simulation

A new neutron reflectometer with a horizontal sample geometry was designed and is now under construction at the HANARO, 30 MW research reactor. It was originally built and operated at the H9-A beam port at BNL, and was relocated to HANARO in 2004. We performed simulations of neutron ray-tracing to evaluate the performance of all of the optical components of the instrument with a Monte Carlo technique using McStas code. The feasible wavelength of the incident neutron beam is 2.52 Å. It produces a q-range up to 0.126 Å^− 1 with a supermirror as a deflector. Our studies indicated possibilities to improve the performance of the guide tube. Although the performance is limited (limited q-range and flux due to multiple reflections prior to the deflector), it promises to be the first reflectometer in Korea for the study of free surfaces, which is currently in demand.     

Investigation of fuel cells using scanning neutron imaging and a focusing neutron guide

We present two different methods to increase the size of available neutron beams in order to allow for the investigation of large objects. Application of these methods is demonstrated for radiographic imaging of fuel cells. The first approach is a scanning procedure based on the coordinated translation of detector and sample through the beam. Further advancement was achieved by installing a focusing neutron guide, which offers an expanded neutron beam size after diverging from a focused point source.     

A neutron Albedo system with time rejection for landmine and IED detection

A neutron Albedo system has been developed for imaging of buried landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It involves irradiating the ground with fast neutrons and subsequently detecting the thermalized neutrons that return. A scintillating ⁶Li loaded ZnS(Ag) screen with a sensitive area of 40 cm×40 cm is used as a thermal neutron detector. Scintillation light is captured by orthogonal arrays of wavelength-shifting fibers placed on either side of the scintillator surface and then transferred to X and Y multi-pixel PMTs. A timing circuit, used with pulsed neutron sources, records the time when a neutron detection takes place relative to an external synchronization pulse from the pulsed source. Experimental tests of the Albedo system performance have been done in a sand box with a ²⁵²Cf neutron source (no time gating) and with pulsed D-D (2.6 MeV) neutrons from the Defense R&D Ottawa Van de Graaff accelerator (with time gating). Information contained in the time evolution of the thermal neutron field provided improved detection capability and image reconstruction. The detector design is described and experimental results are discussed.     

Study of hydrogen effusion in austenitic stainless steel by time-resolved in-situ measurements using neutron radiography

The purpose of the present study was to show the feasibility of measuring hydrogen effusion in austenitic stainless steel (1.4301) using neutron radiography at the facility ANTARES of the research reactor FRM II of the Technische Universität München. This method is appropriate to measure in-situ hydrogen effusion for hydrogen concentrations as small as 20 ppm_H. Experiments were carried out in the temperature range from room temperature up to 533 K. The measurement principle is based on the parallel comparison of electrochemically hydrogen charged specimen with hydrogen-free reference specimen at the same temperature. This allows the determination of the hydrogen concentration in the specimens as a function of time and temperature. Separate hot carrier gas extraction experiments using the same temperature-time profiles as the radiography experiments have been used to calibrate the grey values of the neutron transmission images into hydrogen concentrations. It can be stated that the hydrogen effusion correlates with the specimen temperature.     

In-situ neutron radiography investigations of hydrogen diffusion and absorption in zirconium alloys

The fast and non-destructive character of neutron radiography provides the possibility of in-situ investigations of hydrogen uptake and diffusion in zirconium alloys. A special reaction furnace with neutron transparent windows was constructed. The method of quantitative hydrogen determination by neutron transmission measurements was calibrated for each experimental run. Additionally, oxygen is absorbed in the α-Zr phase and precipitated in the oxide layer. The calibration of the correlation between hydrogen and oxygen concentrations and total neutron cross-sections at room temperature and between 1123 and 1623 K are described.Results of in-situ neutron radiography investigations of hydrogen diffusion and absorption are presented in this paper. A linear dependence of the total macroscopic neutron cross section on the H/Zr atomic ratio as well as on the oxygen concentration was found. No significant temperature dependence of the total neutron cross-sections of hydrogen dissolved in β-Zr or oxygen dissolved in the α-Zr or precipitated in the oxide layer was found.     

Dehydration of moulding sand in simulated casting process examined with neutron radiography

Natural bentonites are an important material in the casting industry. Smectites as the main component of bentonites plasticize and stabilise sand moulds. Pore water as well as interlayer water within the smectites are lost as a function of time, location and temperature. Although rehydration of the smectites should be a reversible process, the industrially dehydrated smectites lose their capability to reabsorb water. This limits the number of possible process cycles of the mould material. A full understanding of the dehydration process would help to optimise the amount of fresh material to be added and thus save resources. A simulated metal casting was investigated with neutron radiography at the ANTARES neutron imaging facility of the FRM II reactor of Technische Universität München, Germany.     

Application of neutron radiography in observing and quantifying the time-dependent moisture distributions in multi-cracked cement-based composites

Significant tensile strain capacity of SHCC under tensile stress can be reached by multi-crack formation, while the cracks remain bridged by fibres. Ductility of SHCC is due to this multi-crack formation. Cracks are preferential pathways for ingress of water and salt solutions into the material. In this contribution neutron radiography has been successfully applied to visualize the process of water penetration into cracked SHCC and to quantify the corresponding time-dependent moisture distributions in cracked SHCC. Results indicate that in uncracked SHCC, less water can be found. Once cracked, however, both the amount of water and the penetration depth increased with increasing of crack density and the wider crack pattern when higher tensile strain was applied. Even at comparatively modest imposed strain when micro-cracks were formed, water penetrated into the specimens along the cracks of 30 μm–50 μm immediately and then water migrated further into the surrounding matrix from water filled cracks. Water then moved into the matrix adjacent to the cracks which was mechanically damaged by direct tension. Therefore, if durability of SHCC is an issue for application, a maximum strain may not be exceeded. In order to prevent penetration of water or salt solutions into cracked SHCC, two approaches were used. Integral water repellent SHCC was prepared by adding silane emulsion to the fresh mortar. Compared with neat SHCC, the integral water repellent SHCC with multi-cracks absorbed much less water after imposed to the same tensile strain. Notice that there was still a small amount of moisture that could enter the matrix of integral water repellent SHCC via cracks when the tensile strain was over 1.5% in this study. As an alternative method, surface impregnation with silane gel was a more promising approach to protect cracked SHCC from water or salt solution penetration into the material when multi-cracks formed.     

Development of neutron radiography facility for boiling two-phase flow experiment in Kyoto University Research Reactor

To visualize boiling two-phase flow at high heat flux by using neutron radiography, a new neutron radiography facility was developed in the B-4 beam hole of KUR. The B-4 beam hole is equipped with a supermirror neutron guide tube with a characteristic wavelength of 1.2 Å, whose geometrical parameters of the guide tube are: 11.7 m total length and 10 mm wide ×74 mm high beam cross-section. The total neutron flux obtained from the KUR supermirror guide tube is about 5×10⁷ n/cm² s with a nominal thermal output of 5 MW of KUR, which is about 100 times what is obtainable with the conventional KUR neutron radiography facility (E-2 beam hole). In this study a new imaging device, an electric power supply (1200 A, 20 V), and a thermal hydraulic loop were installed. The neutron source, the beam tube, and the radiography rooms are described in detail and the preliminary images obtained at the developed facility are shown.     

Thermal neutron imaging with rare-earth-ion-doped LiCaAlF6 scintillators and a sealed Cf source

Thermal neutron imaging with Ce-doped LiCaAlF₆ crystals has been performed. The prototype of the neutron imager using a Ce-doped LiCaAlF₆ scintillating crystal and a position sensitive photomultiplier tube (PSPMT) which had 64 multi-channel anode was developed. The Ce-doped LiCaAlF₆ single crystal was grown by the Czochralski method. A plate with dimensions of a diameter of 50×2 mm² was cut from the grown crystal, polished, and optically coupled to PSPMT by silicone grease. The ²⁵²Cf source (<1 MBq) was sealed with 43 mm of polyethylene for neutron thermalization. Alphabet-shaped Cd pieces with a thickness of 2 mm were used as a mask for the thermal neutrons. After corrections for the pedestals and gain of each pixel, we successfully obtained two-dimensional neutron images using Ce-doped LiCaAlF₆.