Open AccessSpatially resolved time-of-flight neutron imaging using a scintillator CMOS-camera detector with kHz time resolution
Author(s) -
Robin Woracek,
Mark Krzyzagorski,
Henning Markötter,
Peter M. Kadletz,
Nikolay Kardjilov,
Ingo Manke,
André Hilger
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.026218
Subject(s) - scintillator , neutron detection , neutron imaging , detector , optics , physics , time of flight , image resolution , neutron , frame rate , cmos sensor , pixel , nuclear physics
We herein report on using a compact and low cost scintillator-camera based neutron detection system for quantitative time-of-flight imaging applications. While powerful pulsed neutron sources emerge and enable unprecedented scientific achievements, one bottleneck is the availability of suitable detectors that provide high count- and high frame- rate capabilities. For imaging applications the achievable spatial resolution/pixel size is obviously another key characteristic. While major effort was so far directed towards the development of neutron counting type imaging detectors, this work demonstrates that a camera based detector system as commonly employed at steady state sources can also be used if a suitable camera is utilized. This is demonstrated at the ESS test beamline (V20) at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin by recording the time-of-flight transmission spectrum of steel samples using a CMOS camera at 1 kHz frame rate, revealing the characteristic Bragg edge pattern. This 'simple' setup in the current state presents a useful option of neutron detection and has the potential to overcome many of the existing limitations and could provide a reliable alternative for neutron detector technology in general, given that the camera and scintillator technology keep up the current development speed.