Development of a Time-resolved Neutron Imaging Detector Based on the {\mu}PIC Micro-Pixel Chamber

TL;DR

This paper presents a prototype neutron imaging detector using a micro-pixel chamber that achieves high spatial and temporal resolution, low gamma sensitivity, and high data rates, suitable for pulsed neutron source applications.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel time-resolved neutron imaging detector based on {b5}PIC technology with demonstrated test results at a neutron facility.

Findings

Achieved 100b5m spatial resolution and sub-b5s timing resolution.

Demonstrated low gamma sensitivity below 10^-12.

Validated detector performance with tests at J-PARC.

Abstract

We have developed a prototype time-resolved neutron imaging detector employing a micro-pattern gaseous detector known as the micro-pixel chamber ({\mu}PIC) coupled with a field-programmable-gate-array-based data acquisition system. Our detector system combines 100{\mu}m-level spatial and sub-{\mu}s time resolutions with a low gamma sensitivity of less than 10^-12 and high data rates, making it well suited for applications in neutron radiography at high-intensity, pulsed neutron sources. In the present paper, we introduce the detector system and present several test measurements performed at NOBORU (BL10), J-PARC to demonstrate the capabilities of our prototype. We also discuss future improvements to the spatial resolution and rate performance.