Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography is a powerful non-destructive technique that can be used to remotely measure the quantity and distribution of elements and isotopes in a sample. This is done by comparing the energy-dependent neutron transmission of a sample with the known cross-sections of individual isotopes. The reconstruction of the composition is possible due to the unique features (e.g. resonances) in the cross-sections of individual isotopes. At short-pulsed (≲ 1 ns) neutron sources, such information is accessible via time-of-flight neutron imaging in principle, but requires a detector with nanosecond temporal resolution. Conventional neutron detectors can meet this requirement only by heavily compromising spatial resolution or efficiency. Here, we present a unique approach on fast neutron resonance radiography using a scintillator-based event-mode imaging detector at a short-pulsed neutron source, including first results on spatially mapped resonance profiles using MeV neutrons. The event mode approach applied in the presented detector allows recording of individual neutron interactions with nanosecond precision in time and sub-mm resolution in space. As a result, the entire available neutron energy spectrum can be measured for each pulse. At the same time, the use of a thick scintillator screen and lenses to focus the produced light results in a highly flexible field of view and a high interaction probability in the sensitive volume of the detector.
Authors
- Adrian Losko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5307-356X)
- Patrick Feng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4896-2730)
- Anton S. Tremsin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2443-7576)
- R. O. Nelson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2221-1717)
- A. Khaplanov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8421-1184)
- Aaron E. Craft (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7092-3826)
- S.A. Wender (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2446-5115)
- Alexander Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4300-9454)
- Tim T. Jäger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5759-9654)
- Alexander Wolfertz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0636-5620)
- Sven C. Vogel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2049-0361)
- T. Hirsh
- Manuel Morgano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6195-5538)
- Sophia Brodish
Institutions
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory (US)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (US)
- Lund University (SE)
- Sandia National Laboratories California (US)
- European Spallation Source (SE)
- Israel Atomic Energy Commission (IL)
- Idaho National Laboratory (US)
- Paul Scherrer Institute (CH)
- Technische Universität Darmstadt (DE)
- Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Zentrum (DE)
- Soreq Nuclear Research Center
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Scientific Reports
- Published
- 2024-12-16
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81412-z
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Nuclear Physics and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.82
Funders
- U.S. Department of Energy
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Technische Universität München
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- Idaho Operations Office, U.S. Department of Energy
- Laboratory Directed Research and Development
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Los Alamos National Laboratory