Lens design challenges for scintillator-based neutron imaging

Journal Article · Tue Sep 11 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2322920· OSTI ID:1565856

Geppert-Kleinrath, Verena  ^[1]; Volegov, Petr L.  ^[1]; Wilde, Carl A.  ^[1]; Tafoya, Landon ^[1]; Vaughan, Jacquelynne ^[1]; Fatherley, Valerie  ^[1]; Danly, Christopher  ^[1]; Mendoza, Emily Faith ^[1]

---

1. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Neutron imaging is an important diagnostic to study inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosions at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) using neutrons emitted in the fusion reactions. Analysis of time-gated images of the primary fusion (14.1 MeV) and down-scattered (6-12 MeV) neutrons based on their time-of-flight allows for the reconstruction of the burning hot spot undergoing fusion and the surrounding cold fuel. The Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Advanced Imaging team has been providing these images since 2011. Currently, two additional lines of sight are being designed and built for NIF to allow three-dimensional reconstructions. Neutron imaging relies on the conversion of neutrons into light to be captured by an imaging system through the use of a scintillator. Although the current neutron imaging system utilizes a fiber scintillator array, a newly designed imaging system will consist of a thick monolithic scintillator and custom-designed lenses to collect the light. The custom lens has to resolve an image produced in the thick volume of the scintillator and therefore needs a large depth of field.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
• Grant/Contract Number: 89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396; AC52- 07NA27344
• OSTI ID: 1565856
• Report Number(s): LA-UR-18-28668; 1996-756X (Electronic); TRN: US2000910
• Journal Information: Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, Vol. 10763; Conference: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, San Diego, CA (United States), 19-23 Aug 2018; ISSN 0277-786X
• Publisher: SPIE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
inertial confinement fusion
nuclear diagnostics
neutron imaging
neutron time-of-flight
lens design
scintillators