Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector

Abstract Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography is a powerful non-destructive technique that can be used to remotely measure the quantity and distribution of elements and isotopes in a sample. This is done by comparing the energy-dependent neutron transmission of a sample with the known cross-sect...

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Main Authors: Alexander Wolfertz, Adrian Losko, Alexander M. Long, Sophia Brodish, Aaron E. Craft, Anton Khaplanov, Sven C. Vogel, Ronald O. Nelson, Stephen A. Wender, Anton Tremsin, Tsviki Y. Hirsh, Tim T. Jäger, Manuel Morgano, Patrick Feng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2024-12-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81412-z
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author Alexander Wolfertz
Adrian Losko
Alexander M. Long
Sophia Brodish
Aaron E. Craft
Anton Khaplanov
Sven C. Vogel
Ronald O. Nelson
Stephen A. Wender
Anton Tremsin
Tsviki Y. Hirsh
Tim T. Jäger
Manuel Morgano
Patrick Feng
author_facet Alexander Wolfertz
Adrian Losko
Alexander M. Long
Sophia Brodish
Aaron E. Craft
Anton Khaplanov
Sven C. Vogel
Ronald O. Nelson
Stephen A. Wender
Anton Tremsin
Tsviki Y. Hirsh
Tim T. Jäger
Manuel Morgano
Patrick Feng
author_sort Alexander Wolfertz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography is a powerful non-destructive technique that can be used to remotely measure the quantity and distribution of elements and isotopes in a sample. This is done by comparing the energy-dependent neutron transmission of a sample with the known cross-sections of individual isotopes. The reconstruction of the composition is possible due to the unique features (e.g. resonances) in the cross-sections of individual isotopes. At short-pulsed ( $${\lesssim }$$  1 ns) neutron sources, such information is accessible via time-of-flight neutron imaging in principle, but requires a detector with nanosecond temporal resolution. Conventional neutron detectors can meet this requirement only by heavily compromising spatial resolution or efficiency. Here, we present a unique approach on fast neutron resonance radiography using a scintillator-based event-mode imaging detector at a short-pulsed neutron source, including first results on spatially mapped resonance profiles using MeV neutrons. The event mode approach applied in the presented detector allows recording of individual neutron interactions with nanosecond precision in time and sub-mm resolution in space. As a result, the entire available neutron energy spectrum can be measured for each pulse. At the same time, the use of a thick scintillator screen and lenses to focus the produced light results in a highly flexible field of view and a high interaction probability in the sensitive volume of the detector.
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spelling doaj-art-45b841479dc4406f827fb5d5fc20858e2024-12-22T12:26:07ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222024-12-0114111310.1038/s41598-024-81412-zEnergy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detectorAlexander Wolfertz0Adrian Losko1Alexander M. Long2Sophia Brodish3Aaron E. Craft4Anton Khaplanov5Sven C. Vogel6Ronald O. Nelson7Stephen A. Wender8Anton Tremsin9Tsviki Y. Hirsh10Tim T. Jäger11Manuel Morgano12Patrick Feng13Forschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-LeibnitzForschungs-Neutronenquelle Heinz Maier-LeibnitzLos Alamos National LaboratoryIdaho National LaboratoryIdaho National LaboratoryOak Ridge National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryLos Alamos National LaboratoryUniversity of CaliforniaSoreq Nuclear Research CenterLos Alamos National LaboratoryEuropean Spallation Source ERICSandia National LaboratoriesAbstract Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography is a powerful non-destructive technique that can be used to remotely measure the quantity and distribution of elements and isotopes in a sample. This is done by comparing the energy-dependent neutron transmission of a sample with the known cross-sections of individual isotopes. The reconstruction of the composition is possible due to the unique features (e.g. resonances) in the cross-sections of individual isotopes. At short-pulsed ( $${\lesssim }$$  1 ns) neutron sources, such information is accessible via time-of-flight neutron imaging in principle, but requires a detector with nanosecond temporal resolution. Conventional neutron detectors can meet this requirement only by heavily compromising spatial resolution or efficiency. Here, we present a unique approach on fast neutron resonance radiography using a scintillator-based event-mode imaging detector at a short-pulsed neutron source, including first results on spatially mapped resonance profiles using MeV neutrons. The event mode approach applied in the presented detector allows recording of individual neutron interactions with nanosecond precision in time and sub-mm resolution in space. As a result, the entire available neutron energy spectrum can be measured for each pulse. At the same time, the use of a thick scintillator screen and lenses to focus the produced light results in a highly flexible field of view and a high interaction probability in the sensitive volume of the detector.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81412-z
spellingShingle Alexander Wolfertz
Adrian Losko
Alexander M. Long
Sophia Brodish
Aaron E. Craft
Anton Khaplanov
Sven C. Vogel
Ronald O. Nelson
Stephen A. Wender
Anton Tremsin
Tsviki Y. Hirsh
Tim T. Jäger
Manuel Morgano
Patrick Feng
Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
Scientific Reports
title Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
title_full Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
title_fullStr Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
title_full_unstemmed Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
title_short Energy-resolved fast-neutron radiography using an event-mode neutron imaging detector
title_sort energy resolved fast neutron radiography using an event mode neutron imaging detector
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81412-z
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