Electronic neutron imaging

An electronic neutron imaging system is described. The developed camera includes special scintillator screens for slow (cold, thermal and epithermal) and fast neutrons. The camera system includes dual lenses to allow imaging over both a full 12- inch square image area and also over a 3- inch field of view for high resolution slow neutron imaging. The intensified 1K x 1K frame transfer camera permits both real-time (30 frames/second) and several minute integration imaging. The camera was designed to be compatible with a Navy supported, quadrupole, p-Be reaction accelerator neutron source, producing neutrons of about 2.2 MeV energy. The fast neutron flux at a distance of 50 cm from the accelerator target is about 10(7) n/cm(2)-s. The moderated beam typically provides a thermal neutron flux of 10(6) n/cm(2)-s. The developed camera will image real-time events at those levels. Spatial resolution for the full field for thermal neutrons is 1.6 line pairs/mm and 0.5 1p/mm for fast neutrons (a limit set by fast neutron scatter in the thick scintillator screen). Resolution for thermal neutron imaging with the small field of view offers improved results to the level of at least 4 1p/mm. The new camera offers many unique features for both neutron and x-ray imaging.