Fast-neutron/gamma-ray radiography using a broad-energy neutron source

J. T. Nattress; P. A. Hausladen; P. B. Rose

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2022.167701

Fast-neutron/gamma-ray radiography using a broad-energy neutron source

J. T. Nattress, P. A. Hausladen, P. B. Rose

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Transmission radiography is a well-established nondestructive examination technique with widespread application to fields ranging from medicine to security. Traditionally, inspection is performed using a single particle type (such as x-rays). However, the information available using a single probe for traditional radiography is limited. The present work evaluates material discrimination via transmission radiography using the attenuation ratio of monoenergetic gamma rays to a broad spectrum of fast neutrons. The method was assessed using an ²⁴¹Am/Be radioisotope source that provides both 4.4 MeV gamma rays and a spectrum of fast neutrons up to 12 MeV. A total of 14 object configurations were measured: seven different materials each with two thicknesses (2.5 cm and 5 cm). The ability to distinguish materials was evaluated and shows more significant variation among atomic numbers than for high-energy x-rays alone, making it easier to distinguish between classes such as low-, mid-, and high-Z materials. These results suggest that superior material discrimination is also possible using a combination of monoenergetic gamma rays and broad-spectrum fast neutrons from a variety of nuclear reactions, such as ¹¹B(d,nγ)¹²C, that could be implemented in future inspection systems.

Original language	English
Article number	167701
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	1047
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2022.167701
State	Published - Feb 2023

Funding

This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00R22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan (http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan). This manuscript has been authored by UT-Battelle, LLC, under contract DE-AC05-00R22725 with the US Department of Energy (DOE). The US government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for publication, acknowledges that the US government retains a nonexclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this manuscript, or allow others to do so, for US government purposes. DOE will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan ( http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan ).

Funders	Funder number
DOE Public Access Plan
U.S. Department of Energy

Keywords

Gamma
Material identification
Neutron
Radiography

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10.1016/j.nima.2022.167701

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title = "Fast-neutron/gamma-ray radiography using a broad-energy neutron source",

abstract = "Transmission radiography is a well-established nondestructive examination technique with widespread application to fields ranging from medicine to security. Traditionally, inspection is performed using a single particle type (such as x-rays). However, the information available using a single probe for traditional radiography is limited. The present work evaluates material discrimination via transmission radiography using the attenuation ratio of monoenergetic gamma rays to a broad spectrum of fast neutrons. The method was assessed using an 241Am/Be radioisotope source that provides both 4.4 MeV gamma rays and a spectrum of fast neutrons up to 12 MeV. A total of 14 object configurations were measured: seven different materials each with two thicknesses (2.5 cm and 5 cm). The ability to distinguish materials was evaluated and shows more significant variation among atomic numbers than for high-energy x-rays alone, making it easier to distinguish between classes such as low-, mid-, and high-Z materials. These results suggest that superior material discrimination is also possible using a combination of monoenergetic gamma rays and broad-spectrum fast neutrons from a variety of nuclear reactions, such as 11B(d,nγ)12C, that could be implemented in future inspection systems.",

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AU - Hausladen, P. A.

AU - Rose, P. B.

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N2 - Transmission radiography is a well-established nondestructive examination technique with widespread application to fields ranging from medicine to security. Traditionally, inspection is performed using a single particle type (such as x-rays). However, the information available using a single probe for traditional radiography is limited. The present work evaluates material discrimination via transmission radiography using the attenuation ratio of monoenergetic gamma rays to a broad spectrum of fast neutrons. The method was assessed using an 241Am/Be radioisotope source that provides both 4.4 MeV gamma rays and a spectrum of fast neutrons up to 12 MeV. A total of 14 object configurations were measured: seven different materials each with two thicknesses (2.5 cm and 5 cm). The ability to distinguish materials was evaluated and shows more significant variation among atomic numbers than for high-energy x-rays alone, making it easier to distinguish between classes such as low-, mid-, and high-Z materials. These results suggest that superior material discrimination is also possible using a combination of monoenergetic gamma rays and broad-spectrum fast neutrons from a variety of nuclear reactions, such as 11B(d,nγ)12C, that could be implemented in future inspection systems.

AB - Transmission radiography is a well-established nondestructive examination technique with widespread application to fields ranging from medicine to security. Traditionally, inspection is performed using a single particle type (such as x-rays). However, the information available using a single probe for traditional radiography is limited. The present work evaluates material discrimination via transmission radiography using the attenuation ratio of monoenergetic gamma rays to a broad spectrum of fast neutrons. The method was assessed using an 241Am/Be radioisotope source that provides both 4.4 MeV gamma rays and a spectrum of fast neutrons up to 12 MeV. A total of 14 object configurations were measured: seven different materials each with two thicknesses (2.5 cm and 5 cm). The ability to distinguish materials was evaluated and shows more significant variation among atomic numbers than for high-energy x-rays alone, making it easier to distinguish between classes such as low-, mid-, and high-Z materials. These results suggest that superior material discrimination is also possible using a combination of monoenergetic gamma rays and broad-spectrum fast neutrons from a variety of nuclear reactions, such as 11B(d,nγ)12C, that could be implemented in future inspection systems.

KW - Gamma

KW - Material identification

KW - Neutron

KW - Radiography

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ER -

Fast-neutron/gamma-ray radiography using a broad-energy neutron source

Abstract

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Keywords

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