An RFQ accelerator based neutron radiography and tomography system

R. C. Lanza; D. W. Fink; E. B. Iverson; E. W. McFarland; S. Shi

doi:10.1117/12.267929

An RFQ accelerator based neutron radiography and tomography system

R. C. Lanza, D. W. Fink, E. B. Iverson, E. W. McFarland, S. Shi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

Abstract

Transportable accelerator based sources are the only means by which large structures such as aircraft or industrial components can be inspected practically using neutron radiography.^1,2 Since such sources are generally considerably lower in flux than reactors, the entire system must be designed for high imaging efficiency. We describe an imaging system for accelerator based thermal neutron tomography and radiography based on the use of an radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) using a Be target. Fast neutrons, produced through the reaction ⁹Be₄(d,n)¹⁰B₅, are moderated with typical thermalized neutron fluence rates of 10³ to 10⁴ n/cm²/s, depending on the collimation. The camera system consists of a 1242 × 1152 pixel CCD (22.5 μm square pixels) cooled to -50° C viewing a 20 × 20 cm NE-426 scintillator through an F/0.9 100 mm focal length lens. Our experiments show that neutron statistical noise and not the performance of the CCD system is the dominant limitation in the camera. We have used the system for imaging corrosion in lap joints of KC-135 aircraft and have been able to quantify corrosion within the joint.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	347-350
Number of pages	4
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	2867
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.267929
State	Published - Feb 27 1996
Externally published	Yes
Event	International Conference Neutrons in Research and Industry 1996 - Crete, Greece Duration: Jun 9 1996 → Jun 15 1996

Funding

This work was supported by the Federal Aviation Administration (Grant 93-G-053) and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (Grant F49620-93-1 -O291DEF). Prof. John Watterson provided much appreciated advice and ideas. Drs. Robert and Marianne Harnm of AccSys Technology were of great help in initial accelerator operations.

Funders	Funder number
Air Force Office of Scientific Research	F49620-93-1 -O291DEF
Federal Aviation Administration	93-G-053

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title = "An RFQ accelerator based neutron radiography and tomography system",

abstract = "Transportable accelerator based sources are the only means by which large structures such as aircraft or industrial components can be inspected practically using neutron radiography.1,2 Since such sources are generally considerably lower in flux than reactors, the entire system must be designed for high imaging efficiency. We describe an imaging system for accelerator based thermal neutron tomography and radiography based on the use of an radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) using a Be target. Fast neutrons, produced through the reaction 9Be4(d,n)10B5, are moderated with typical thermalized neutron fluence rates of 103 to 104 n/cm2/s, depending on the collimation. The camera system consists of a 1242 × 1152 pixel CCD (22.5 μm square pixels) cooled to -50° C viewing a 20 × 20 cm NE-426 scintillator through an F/0.9 100 mm focal length lens. Our experiments show that neutron statistical noise and not the performance of the CCD system is the dominant limitation in the camera. We have used the system for imaging corrosion in lap joints of KC-135 aircraft and have been able to quantify corrosion within the joint.",

author = "Lanza, {R. C.} and Fink, {D. W.} and Iverson, {E. B.} and McFarland, {E. W.} and S. Shi",

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AU - Iverson, E. B.

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AU - Shi, S.

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N2 - Transportable accelerator based sources are the only means by which large structures such as aircraft or industrial components can be inspected practically using neutron radiography.1,2 Since such sources are generally considerably lower in flux than reactors, the entire system must be designed for high imaging efficiency. We describe an imaging system for accelerator based thermal neutron tomography and radiography based on the use of an radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) using a Be target. Fast neutrons, produced through the reaction 9Be4(d,n)10B5, are moderated with typical thermalized neutron fluence rates of 103 to 104 n/cm2/s, depending on the collimation. The camera system consists of a 1242 × 1152 pixel CCD (22.5 μm square pixels) cooled to -50° C viewing a 20 × 20 cm NE-426 scintillator through an F/0.9 100 mm focal length lens. Our experiments show that neutron statistical noise and not the performance of the CCD system is the dominant limitation in the camera. We have used the system for imaging corrosion in lap joints of KC-135 aircraft and have been able to quantify corrosion within the joint.

AB - Transportable accelerator based sources are the only means by which large structures such as aircraft or industrial components can be inspected practically using neutron radiography.1,2 Since such sources are generally considerably lower in flux than reactors, the entire system must be designed for high imaging efficiency. We describe an imaging system for accelerator based thermal neutron tomography and radiography based on the use of an radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) using a Be target. Fast neutrons, produced through the reaction 9Be4(d,n)10B5, are moderated with typical thermalized neutron fluence rates of 103 to 104 n/cm2/s, depending on the collimation. The camera system consists of a 1242 × 1152 pixel CCD (22.5 μm square pixels) cooled to -50° C viewing a 20 × 20 cm NE-426 scintillator through an F/0.9 100 mm focal length lens. Our experiments show that neutron statistical noise and not the performance of the CCD system is the dominant limitation in the camera. We have used the system for imaging corrosion in lap joints of KC-135 aircraft and have been able to quantify corrosion within the joint.

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An RFQ accelerator based neutron radiography and tomography system

Abstract

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