Physics of Image Formation in Accelerator-based Fast Neutron Radiography

摘要

Fast neutron radiography is an element sensitive non-destructive testing method with potential applications in industry and the detection of contraband and explosives. The physical processes that control image formation can be examined individually by a variety of analytical and experimental methods in order to determine their impact on contrast, resolution and detectability. In order to achieve the optimum sensitivity for the detection of small features it is important to understand the physics of image formation. The detection of small features depends on the contrast resolution and noise in an image. In this work the influence of the geometrical optics of image formation in accelerator-based fast neutron radiography has been combined with Monte Carlo studies of neutron scattering. Position sensitive detectors based on the charged coupled device (CCD) and amorphous silicon sensor arrays were used in the experimental determination of the limits of detection from the Poisson noise resulting from the neutron detection process, electronic noise and other limitations of the semiconductor detectors.