First i-TED demonstrator: a Compton imager with Dynamic Electronic Collimation

TL;DR

This paper presents the first demonstrator of i-TED, a Compton imaging system with dynamic electronic collimation designed for neutron capture cross section measurements, combining TOF and gamma-ray imaging for background discrimination.

Contribution

It introduces the innovative DEC concept in a Compton imager and reports initial performance results of the i-TED demonstrator.

Findings

Successful gamma-ray detection and imaging with the demonstrator

Effective background discrimination capabilities demonstrated

Trade-off between efficiency and resolution validated

Abstract

i-TED consists of both a total energy detector and a Compton camera primarily intended for the measurement of neutron capture cross sections by means of the simultaneous combination of neutron time-of-flight (TOF) and $\gamma$-ray imaging techniques. TOF allows one to obtain a neutron-energy differential capture yield, whereas the imaging capability is intended for the discrimination of radiative background sources, that have a spatial origin different from that of the capture sample under investigation. A distinctive feature of i-TED is the embedded Dynamic Electronic Collimation (DEC) concept, which allows for a trade-off between efficiency and image resolution. Here we report on some general design considerations and first performance characterization measurements made with an i-TED demonstrator in order to explore its $\gamma$-ray detection and imaging capabilities.