Visibility Estimation for Neutron Resonance Absorption Radiography using a Pulsed Neutron Source

Abstract

Neutron resonance absorption radiography is a technique to enhance neutron transmission images of specific nucleus at neutron resonance energies. Demonstration measurements by using a lithium-glass pixel type scintillator and a gas electron multiplication (GEM) neutron detector were carried out at NOBORU beam line in MLF/J-PARC for sodium, manganese, cobalt, copper, zinc, molybdenum, cadmium, indium, tantalum and gold. To discuss advantages of the resonance absorption radiography the mass attenuation coefficient at resonance energy of each element was compared to that at 25 meV. In addition a visibility index derived by a resonance peak cross section and a relative width (full width at half maximum divided by its resonance energy) was proposed to summarize visibility of the neutron resonance absorption radiography for natural elements. The values of visibility index and the resonance energy indicated that large advantages of the resonance absorption radiography were obtainable for the following elements: sodium (Na), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), rhodium (Rh), silver (Ag), cadmium (Cd), indium (In), xenon (Xe), cesium (Cs), samarium (Sm), europium (Eu), dysprosium (Dy), erbium (Er), thulium (Tm), hafnium (Hf), tantalum (Ta), tungsten (W), rhenium (Re), iridium (Ir) and gold (Au).