Neutron Ghost Imaging

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates neutron ghost imaging using a thermal neutron source, introducing methods for improved resolution, dose reduction, and new imaging modalities like tomography and microscopy.

Contribution

It presents the first implementation of neutron ghost imaging with a poly-energetic reactor source, including super-resolution and various advanced imaging techniques.

Findings

Successful demonstration of neutron ghost imaging with thermal neutrons

Development of super-resolution neutron ghost imaging methods

Potential for dose reduction and enhanced resolution in neutron imaging

Abstract

Ghost imaging is demonstrated using a poly-energetic reactor source of thermal neutrons. The method presented enables position resolution to be incorporated, into a variety of neutron instruments that are not position resolving. In an imaging context, ghost imaging can be beneficial for dose reduction and resolution enhancement. We also demonstrate a super-resolution variant of the method, namely a parallel form of neutron ghost imaging, with the ability to significantly increase the spatial resolution of a pixelated detector such as a CCD or CMOS camera. Extensions of our neutron ghost-imaging protocol are discussed in detail and include neutron ghost tomography, neutron ghost microscopy, dark-field neutron ghost imaging, and isotope-resolved color neutron ghost imaging via prompt gamma-ray bucket detection.