Development of a Neutron Imager using CMOS Pixelated Sensor

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a neutron imaging system using a CMOS pixelated sensor, analyzing image quality and contrast to evaluate the system’s resolution and performance.

Contribution

Introduces a neutron imaging method with CMOS sensors and evaluates its resolution and contrast performance.

Findings

Image RMS blurriness of 17 μm

Beam divergence of 2.7 mrad

Resolution limit of 12 line-space pairs per mm

Abstract

We acquired an image of the Siemens Star Chart using the ${}^{10}$B-INTPIX4 CMOS pixelated imager at J-PARC MLF BL21 (NOVA). The image blurriness, characterized by a root mean square (rms) value of 17 $\mu$m in the line spread function, corresponds to an rms beam divergence of 2.7 mrad. for the neutron beam. This is equivalent to the L/D ratio of 370. The contrast of the image was analyzed as a function of structural scale of the chart, and based on this contrast, the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the imaging system was evaluated. The results indicate that the structure corresponding to the 50% cutoff is 12 line-space pairs per mm.