Meeting report (pdf) - Nuclear Sciences and Applications - IAEA

1. FOREWORD
Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future
generations. Our cultural and natural heritages are both irreplaceable sources of life and
inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa’s Serengeti, the Pyramids
of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America
make up our world’s heritage. What makes the concept of World Heritage exceptional is its
universal application. World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective
of the territory on which they are located.
Neutron based techniques, particle induced X-ray- as well as ion probe principles play an
important role in both applied research and practical applications. Today, various
experimental setups of neutron techniques can be used effectively for imaging purposes.
Moreover, recent developments of X-ray methods, which are used primarily for medical
applications, like diagnostics or treatment (e.g. X-ray based computer tomography,
tomotherapy, image guided radiotherapy, etc.), use advanced imaging principles. However,
these techniques do not offer directly analysis of elemental composition of studied entities.
On the other hand, non-destructive X-ray fluorescence techniques are often applied for trace
element determination but this technique provides information on the surface layers but not
on the bulk composition of the samples. In other cases, techniques like Nuclear Magnetic
Resonance (NMR) cannot be used, for instance due to the presence of magnetic components
in studied samples. Generally, none of the above listed methods can offer bulk elemental
analysis. This type of study can be done by the so called large sample neutron activation
analysis; however, this technique is not fully developed for imaging purposes. Other neutron
techniques, like prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, neutron diffraction or neutron
resonant capture analysis, also do not offer all advantages of neutron interactions with matter.
From this point of view more complex and sophisticated techniques have to be developed in
order to guarantee effective integration and/or simultaneous applications of particular tools.
The key application of neutron imaging techniques is foreseen for non-invasive studies on
objects from cultural heritage importance, where this tool can bring valuable information.
Various research groups as well as potential end-users have been identified and a number of
research teams among many Member States are interested in this kind of R&D. Hence these
kinds of analytical capabilities are needed, particularly based on bulk-composition and image
analysis.
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