High-Energy Neutron Imaging at LLNL (open access)

High-Energy Neutron Imaging at LLNL

LLNL is currently engaged in the development of high-energy (10 MeV) neutron imaging technology to complement existing x-ray diagnostic tools in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nondestructive evaluation (NDE) applications. Our goal is to develop and deploy a nonintrusive imaging system capable of detecting cubic-mm-scale voids, cracks or other significant structural defects in heavily-shielded low-Z materials within very thick objects. The final production-line system that we envision will be relatively compact (suitable for use in existing facilities within the DOE complex) and capable of acquiring both radiographic and tomographic (CT) images. In this paper, the design status of the high-intensity, accelerator-driven neutron source and large-format imaging detector associated with the system will be discussed and results from one recent neutron imaging experiment conducted at the Ohio University Accelerator Laboratory (OUAL) in Athens, OH will be presented.
Date: May 6, 2007
Creator: Hall, J; Rusnak, B & Fitsos, P
System: The UNT Digital Library