RESEARCH ON NEUTRON INTERACTIONS IN MATTER AS RELATED TO IMAGE FORMATION. Annual Report
Research designed to optimize the characteristics (sensitivity and resolution) of a neutron imaging detector system to be compatible with the neutron image quality is described. The characteristics of various neutron image detectors such as, activation foils with x-ray film, neutron sensitive phosphor screens with film, bundles of rods of neutron scintillators, multiwire spark chambers, arrays of small semiconductor detectors, and optical image intensiflers or readout tubes in conjunction with the lumlnescent materials were considered. In considering the applications of neutron imaging it was concluded that most neutron imaging will be performed with thermal neutrons where the cross section differences among elements vary appreciably, but where scattering constltutes a major part of the total cross section for many elements. The effect of scattering upon the image quallty is shown to be appreciable in certain instances. Two illustrative examples of the contrast differences between thermal neutron radiography and x-ray radiography are shown. Examples of inspection applications for neutron radiography include such items as reactor control rods, plastic or rubber tubing components in air frames, cadmlum plating, and low atomic number elements in the presence of high atomic number elements. An optical technique which simulates the neutron intensity pattern at the image plane for a radlographic object containing both neutron absorption and neutron scattering was developed. This technique allows production, with a simple optlcal bench apparatus, of a simulated image which includes the effects of both the imaging detector resolution and the neutron scattering in the object. Optically synthesized images compare favorably with analogous neutron radlographs. The optical analog for neutron radiography is now being used to perform a parameter study of the image degradation due to detector resolution, without the costs of fabricating new neutron imaging detector systems at this time. It was concluded that there exist, discharge tube or accelerator type neutron sources with neutron intensities sufficient to obtain neutron radiographs with existing detection techniques in reasonable exposure times. The future use of isotopic neutron sources for neutron radiography appears promising, by virtue of improved neutron image detectors and/or higher yield isotopic neutron sources. It was concluded that neutron imaging or radlography represents an invaluable complement to x-ray and gamma-ray radiography for many applicatlons. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Inst. of Tech., Chicago. Armour Research Foundation
- DOE Contract Number:
- AT(11-1)-578
- NSA Number:
- NSA-16-012421
- OSTI ID:
- 4798309
- Report Number(s):
- ARF-1164-15
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-62
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
RESEARCH STUDY ON NEUTRON INTERACTIONS IN MATTER AS RELATED TO IMAGE FORMATION. Period Covered January 1, 1962 to March 31, 1962
X-ray Computed Tomography and Stereo-Radiographic Inspection Results of the Office of Emergency Response (NA-42) Test Object
Related Subjects
ACTIVATION
CONTROL ELEMENTS
CROSS SECTIONS
FOILS
IMAGES
INSPECTION
INTERACTIONS
ISOTOPES
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRONS
OPTICAL SYSTEMS
PHOSPHORS
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
POLYMERS
RADIOGRAPHY
REACTORS
RODS
RUBBER
SCATTERING
SEMICONDUCTORS
SPARK CHAMBERS
THERMAL NEUTRONS
TUBES
VARIATIONS
X RADIATION