Thermo-luminescence Based Computed Radiography (TLCR)

Abstract

Computed radiography (CR) is an X-ray imaging technique that was developed as early as the 1980s but its acceptance in the real-world NDE has been more recent (in the last decade). Although there are many players in the market, every system is based on more or less similar technology. The technology involves storing the X-ray information, during X-ray exposure, in materials known as storage phosphors. The information is stored in a latent form and then later (at a desired time), this information is released to create an image using an external stimulation mechanism such as light. The work described in this paper assesses the feasibility of an alternate stimulation mechanism, namely heat, to release the trapped energy from the phosphors. This essentially enables one to move away from a point-by-point/ line-by-line scanning technique to an area read-out system. The paper further discusses a simple lens-camera read-out system to generate the X-ray image. The paper also evaluates the performance of such a system comparing it to existing CR systems and explores different mechanisms to improve its limitations.