Design and Development of a Neutron/X-Ray Combined Computed Tomography System At Missouri S&T

Abstract

A new method for non-destructive analysis has been developed using a combined neutron/X-ray imaging system at the Missouri Science and Technology Reactor (MSTR). The interactions of neutrons and X-ray photons with matter produce differing characteristic information, resulting in distinctly different visual images. In order to obtain a more comprehensive picture of the structural and compositional data for a desired object, a prototype imaging system has been designed which utilizes neutron and X-ray imaging simultaneously without obstructing the beam geometry for each imaging mechanism. The current system is optimized for the imaging of small to medium sized objects of 0.5-50 mm. This new imaging capability in place at the MSTR promises great advances in the field of non-destructive testing, especially for nuclear engineering, nuclear medical science, and material science research. In an imaging object, a range of atomic number values and thermal cross-sections may be present. Where multiple materials having similar atomic number and differing thermal cross-section or vice versa may be present, exclusive neutron or X-ray analysis may exhibit shortcomings in distinguishing interfaces. However, fusing the neutron image and X-ray image into a combined image offers the strengths of both and may provide a superior method of analysis. In this paper, a novel combined X-ray and neutron imaging system will be introduced for superior analysis of certain imaging objects. Design details of experimental set-up and examples of preliminary imaging tests from individual modality will be detailed. © Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary 2012.

Department(s)

Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Science

Keywords and Phrases

CMOS Detectors; Combined Imaging; Computed Tomography; Delay Line Anode Detector; Image Fusion; Neutron Imaging; Non-Destructive Evaluation; X-Ray Imaging

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0236-5731

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2013 Springer Verlag, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Jan 2013

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