Digital neutron radiography using plane converters with multiwire proportional chambers

Abstract

The work described here was completed more than three years ago, and represents, in large part the PhD and MS thesis research of two of the present authors. Much of it has been reported previously elsewhere. It constitutes an effort to develop and study a moderately low cost, moderate resolution, high sensitivity, on-line method for digital neutron radiography, intended for use where neutron fluence was limited by source strength, or received dose. The basic imaging system consisted of a position-sensitive gas proportional chamber together with its associated imaging electronics, and a plane neutron converter. Enriched-boron, gadolinium, and polyethylene (for fast neutrons) converters were analyzed and tested. Some work was done on digital data enhancement, and efforts to improve spatial resolution included pressurizing the proportional-chamber gas to reduce the track lengths of the neutron-interaction products