High wavelength-resolution Bragg-edge/dip transmission imaging instrument with a supermirror guide-tube coupled to a decoupled thermal-neutron moderator at Hokkaido University Neutron Source

Abstract

Bragg-edge neutron transmission imaging is one of several useful material characterization tools available at a compact-acceralator driven pulsed-neutron source (a pulsed CANS). Quantitative imaging experiments for crystalline phase, crystallographic texture, and crystallite size have been successfully performed at a pulsed CANS using a coupled (high intensity type) cold-neutron moderator. However, imaging experiments for strain and grain orientation have not been achieved due to the low wavelength-resolution of the coupled moderator. In this study, we demonstrated that both strain imaging using the Bragg-edge transmission method and grain-orientation imaging using the Bragg-dip transmission method are feasible at a pulsed CANS; both types of imaging are made possible with an efficient neutron beam transport system using a supermirror guide-tube combined with a decoupled thermal-neutron moderator (300 K polyethylene), which can supply short neutron pulse. Using this system, we achieved high wavelength-resolution (about 0.5%) Bragg-edge/dip neutron transmission imaging experiments, which correctly visualized the strain values and grain orientations in several polycrystalline materials. On the other hand, it was also found that the neutron flux and the neutron beam angular divergence (L/D) were insufficient with this approach. For this reason, we performed Monte-Carlo simulation studies to investigate a new geometry of moderator system which achieves not only high wavelength-resolution (short pulse width) but also high neutron brightness which is necessary for a high L/D experiment. The simulation results suggest that the most promising candidates use a thin and low-height cold-neutron moderator (20 K methane) with decoupled pre-moderators or poisoned pre-moderators with large solid-angle coverage for fast neutrons emitted from a neutron production target. This system offers higher peak intensity than a coupled moderator for cold neutrons emitted from the highest brightness region on the moderator surface, while achieving narrow pulse widths and decay times as fast as those of decoupled/poisoned moderators.