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Understanding Neutron Radiography

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■ Exposures, Contrast, Resolution<br />

A typical thermal neutron exposure for a slow, single-emulsion, X-ray film and<br />

a single gadolinium conversion screen is about 3 X 109 n/cm2 . This can be<br />

reduced to about 108 n/cm2 for a fast X-ray film. In addition, some increase in<br />

speed can be obtained by using double gadolinium screens (a 6 μm front<br />

screen and a 50 μm thick back screen combination has provided good results)<br />

or a rhodium-gadolinium converter screen combination with double emulsion<br />

films. The single gadolinium conversion method has provided excellent<br />

spatial resolution in thermal neutron radiographs. An experimental spatial<br />

resolution value of 10 μm has been reported, in reasonable agreement with<br />

theoretical analyses. The contrast capability of the direct exposure method is<br />

usually somewhat poorer than that of the transfer method, because fogging<br />

radiation is often present. A typical thickness sensitivity for 25 mm steel or<br />

uranium objects is 2 percent.<br />

Charlie Chong/ Fion Zhang

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