Multi-Frame Energy-Selective Imaging System for Fast-Neutron Radiography

TL;DR

This paper introduces a high-resolution, energy-selective fast-neutron imaging system using scintillators and intensified cameras, capable of capturing multiple energy-specific images simultaneously for advanced neutron radiography.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel multi-frame detector with a new optical amplifier enabling energy-selective neutron imaging using Time-of-Flight, capable of capturing up to 8 images at different energies.

Findings

High-resolution fast-neutron imaging demonstrated.

Simultaneous multi-energy imaging achieved.

Effective energy discrimination in neutron radiography.

Abstract

A new instrument for high resolution imaging of fast-neutrons is presented here. It is designed for energy selective radiography in nanosecond-pulsed broad-energy (1 - 10 MeV) neutron beams. The device presented here is based on hydrogenous scintillator screens and single- or multiple-gated intensified camera systems (ICCD). A key element is a newly developed optical amplifier which generates sufficient light for the high-speed intensified camera system, even from such faint light sources as fast plastic and liquid scintillators. Utilizing the Time-of-Flight (TOF) method, the detector incorporating the above components is capable of simultaneously taking up to 8 images, each at a different neutron energy.