Advances in Neutron Imaging with Grating Interferometry

Neutron imaging provides diverse techniques for specialized nondestructive testing. In the past few years, new contrast features in neutron imaging, so-called phase contrast imaging and dark-field imaging, were discovered and established. These two imaging types allow for obtaining alternative information about investigated samples in comparison to the conventional attenuation signal. This information can be acquired via radio or even tomography. The dedicated setup is based on a neutron grating interferometer exploiting the wave properties of neutrons and their interference behavior. Phase contrast data that use the characteristic phase shift in the observed material can be considered as an additional independent parameter in material research. The dark-field image is driven by the (ultra) small-angle scattering behavior of the material under investigation. The basic evaluation procedures for these techniques are explained, and some practical examples are presented.