Time-resolved high resolution neutron imaging studies at the ORNL spallation neutron source

Vivek V. Nagarkar, Dayakar Penumadu, Irina Shestakova, Samta C. Thacker, Stuart R. Miller, John F. Ankner, Hassina Z. Bilheux, Candice E. Halbert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Our evaluation of a high-resolution digital imaging detector capable of providing millisecond time resolution and high sensitivity for neutrons is presented. This detector is a modified version of the high-resolution γ-ray imager developed previously at Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc. (RMD, Inc.), and consists of an Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Device (EMCCD) attached to a neutron-sensitive scintillator via a fiberoptic taper. By virtue of its internal gain, the EMCCD permits high speed readout without introducing additional noise, thereby enabling high frame rate operation with an enhanced signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Detector sensitivity is enhanced through the use of a back-thinned EMCCD, which provides high quantum efficiency over a typical emission range for many neutron-sensitive scintillators. Preliminary evaluations conducted at the Liquids Reflectometer beam port of the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) demonstrate that this new detector has the sensitivity to detect individual neutrons and the acquisition speed to perform energy-selective imaging with a temporal resolution of milliseconds. While substantial improvements in timing and imaging performance are planned, this prototype detector has already generated the first ever images of the SNS Liquids Reflectometer beam profile and was also used to demonstrate a technique for obtaining Bragg edge transmission imaging using energy-selective neutrons. The preliminary data, along with the detector design, evaluation, and planned developments are discussed in this paper.

Original languageEnglish
Article number5204674
Pages (from-to)2493-2498
Number of pages6
JournalIEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume56
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2009
Externally publishedYes

Funding

Manuscript received November 26, 2007; revised November 11, 2008, February 18, 2009, and March 23, 2009. Current version published August 12, 2009. Dr. Penumadu’s work was supported in part by NSF Grant EECS-0833492. Dr. Nagarkar’s work was supported in part by Department of Energy SBIR Grant DE-FG02-06ER84434. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Keywords

  • EMCCD
  • Neutron detectors

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