As a non-destructive testing technology,neutron imaging plays an important role in various fields,including material science,nuclear engineering,and fundamental science.An imaging detector with a neutron-sensitive ima...As a non-destructive testing technology,neutron imaging plays an important role in various fields,including material science,nuclear engineering,and fundamental science.An imaging detector with a neutron-sensitive image intensifier has been developed and demonstrated to achieve good spatial resolution and timing resolution.However,the influence of the working voltage on the performance of the neutron-sensitive imaging intensifier has not been studied.To optimize the performance of the neutron-sensitive image intensifier at different voltages,experiments have been performed at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)neutron beamline.The change in the light yield and imaging quality with different voltages has been acquired.It is shown that the image quality benefits from the high gain of the microchannel plate(MCP)and the high accelerating electric field between the MCP and the screen.Increasing the accelerating electric field is more effective than increasing the gain of MCPs for the improvement of the imaging quality.Increasing the total gain of the MCP stack can be realized more effectively by improving the gain of the standard MCP than that of the n MCP.These results offer a development direction for image intensifiers in the future.展开更多
Neutron-sensitive microchannel plates(nMCPs)have applications in neutron detection,including energy spectrum measurements,neutron-induced cross sections,and neutron imaging.10B-doped MCPs(B-MCPs)have attracted signifi...Neutron-sensitive microchannel plates(nMCPs)have applications in neutron detection,including energy spectrum measurements,neutron-induced cross sections,and neutron imaging.10B-doped MCPs(B-MCPs)have attracted significant attention owing to their potential for exhibiting a high neutron detection efficiency over a large neutron energy range.Good spatial and temporal resolutions are useful for neutron energy-resolved imaging.However,their practical applications still face many technical challenges.In this study,a B-MCP with 10 mol%10B was tested for its response to wide-energy neutrons from eV to MeV at the Back-n white neutron source at the China Spallation Neutron Source.The neutron detection efficiency was calibrated at 1 eV,which is approximately 300 times that of an ordinary MCP and indicates the success of 10 B doping.The factors that caused the reduction in the detection efficiency were simulated and discussed.The neutron energy spectrum obtained using B-MCP was compared with that obtained by other measurement methods,and showed very good consistency for neutron energies below tens of keV.The response is more complicated at higher neutron energy,at which point the elastic and nonelastic reactions of all nuclides of B-MCP gradually become dominant.This is beneficial for the detection of neutrons,as it compensates for the detection efficiency of B-MCP for high-energy neutrons.展开更多
CN-85 detector which covered with boric acid H3Bo3 pellete has been irradiated by thermal neutrons from (241Am-9Be) source with activity 12 Ci and neutron flux 105 n. cm-2. s-1. The irradiation times-TD for detector w...CN-85 detector which covered with boric acid H3Bo3 pellete has been irradiated by thermal neutrons from (241Am-9Be) source with activity 12 Ci and neutron flux 105 n. cm-2. s-1. The irradiation times-TD for detector were 4 h, 8 h, 16 h and 24 h. The track detector has been etched with sodium hydroxide. After chemical etching of the irradiated CN-85 detector, the images have been taken from a digital camera connected to the optical microscope. Image processing for the output images has been performed using MATALB program, and these images were analyzed and we had found the following relations: a) The relation between summation of opened track or surface density for tracks (intensity-IT) varies with radius of opening (track radius-RT). b) The relation between the tracks number-NT varies with the tracks diameter-DT (in micrometer) and tracks area-AT. That analysis of image processing was obtained, and the track intensity-IT was decreased with increase of track radius-RT at all of the irradiation time-TD. And the track intensity-IT was increased with increasing irradiation time-TD (h) for different track radius-RT (0.4225, 0.845, 1.2675 and 1.69 μm). The study indicates the possibility of using the analysis of image processing to CN-85 detector for classification of α-particle emitters through limitation of radius of track-RT, in addition to the contribution of these techniques in preparation of nano-filters and nono-membrane in nanotechnology fields.展开更多
Recently, Sandia Laboratories developed a neutron scatter camera to detect special nuclear materials. This camera exhibits the following advantages: high efficiency, direction discrimination, neutron-gamma discriminat...Recently, Sandia Laboratories developed a neutron scatter camera to detect special nuclear materials. This camera exhibits the following advantages: high efficiency, direction discrimination, neutron-gamma discrimination ability, and wide field of view. However, using the direct projection method, the angular resolution of this camera is limited by uncertainties in the energies estimated from pulse height and time of flight measurements. In this study, we established an eight-element neutron scatter camera and conducted the experiment with a ^(252)Cf neutron source. The results show that it has an angular resolution better than 8°(1s) and a detection efficiency of approximately 2.6′10-4. Using maximum likelihood expectation maximization method, the image artifact was eliminated, and the angular resolution was improved. We proposed an average scattering angle method to estimate the scattering energy of neutrons and Compton gamma rays. As such, we can obtain a recognizable image and energy spectrum of the source with some degradation of energy and image resolutions. Finally, a newly measured light response function based on the MPD^(-4) device was used for image reconstruction. Although we did not obtain a better result than that of the standard light response function, we have observed the effects of light response function on image reconstruction.展开更多
A simpler and improved utility approximate point scattered function for thin-film converters currently used in neutron photographic devices is proposed as a correction method to produce clearer,more realistic images.T...A simpler and improved utility approximate point scattered function for thin-film converters currently used in neutron photographic devices is proposed as a correction method to produce clearer,more realistic images.The validity of the model was demonstrated through a simulation experiment.Based on the results,an error analysis was carried out,certain corrections were made to the original model,and the final model achieved a very low relative error in the simulation experiment.The model can also be optimized for quantitative neutron photographic analysis using iterative algorithms to obtain realistic neutron photographic images more quickly.At the end of the article,the model is extended to consider the case of energy spectrum hardening by introducing a temperature correction parameter.展开更多
LIGO/Virgo S190814 bv is the first high-probability neutron star–black hole(NSBH)merger candidate,whose gravitational waves(GWs)triggered LIGO/Virgo detectors at21:10:39.012957 UT,14 August 2019.It has a probability&...LIGO/Virgo S190814 bv is the first high-probability neutron star–black hole(NSBH)merger candidate,whose gravitational waves(GWs)triggered LIGO/Virgo detectors at21:10:39.012957 UT,14 August 2019.It has a probability>99%of being an NSBH merger,with a low false alarm rate(FAR)of one per 1.559 e+25 years.For an NSBH merger,electromagnetic counterparts(especially short gamma-ray bursts(GRBs))are generally expected.However,no electromagnetic counterpart has been found in the extensive follow-up observing campaign.In the present work,we propose a novel explanation for this null result.In our scenario,LIGO/Virgo S190814 bv is just a GW mirror image of the real NSBH merger which should have been detected before 14 September 2015,but at that time we had no ability to detect its GW signals.The electromagnetic counterparts associated with the real NSBH merger should be found in the archive data before 14 September 2015.In this work,we indeed find nine short GRBs that are possibly electromagnetic counterparts.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos.2023YFC2206502 and 2021YFA1600703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.12175254 and 12227810)the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Joint Laboratory for Neutron Scattering Science and Technology。
文摘As a non-destructive testing technology,neutron imaging plays an important role in various fields,including material science,nuclear engineering,and fundamental science.An imaging detector with a neutron-sensitive image intensifier has been developed and demonstrated to achieve good spatial resolution and timing resolution.However,the influence of the working voltage on the performance of the neutron-sensitive imaging intensifier has not been studied.To optimize the performance of the neutron-sensitive image intensifier at different voltages,experiments have been performed at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)neutron beamline.The change in the light yield and imaging quality with different voltages has been acquired.It is shown that the image quality benefits from the high gain of the microchannel plate(MCP)and the high accelerating electric field between the MCP and the screen.Increasing the accelerating electric field is more effective than increasing the gain of MCPs for the improvement of the imaging quality.Increasing the total gain of the MCP stack can be realized more effectively by improving the gain of the standard MCP than that of the n MCP.These results offer a development direction for image intensifiers in the future.
基金supported by the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023A1515030074)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.12035017)。
文摘Neutron-sensitive microchannel plates(nMCPs)have applications in neutron detection,including energy spectrum measurements,neutron-induced cross sections,and neutron imaging.10B-doped MCPs(B-MCPs)have attracted significant attention owing to their potential for exhibiting a high neutron detection efficiency over a large neutron energy range.Good spatial and temporal resolutions are useful for neutron energy-resolved imaging.However,their practical applications still face many technical challenges.In this study,a B-MCP with 10 mol%10B was tested for its response to wide-energy neutrons from eV to MeV at the Back-n white neutron source at the China Spallation Neutron Source.The neutron detection efficiency was calibrated at 1 eV,which is approximately 300 times that of an ordinary MCP and indicates the success of 10 B doping.The factors that caused the reduction in the detection efficiency were simulated and discussed.The neutron energy spectrum obtained using B-MCP was compared with that obtained by other measurement methods,and showed very good consistency for neutron energies below tens of keV.The response is more complicated at higher neutron energy,at which point the elastic and nonelastic reactions of all nuclides of B-MCP gradually become dominant.This is beneficial for the detection of neutrons,as it compensates for the detection efficiency of B-MCP for high-energy neutrons.
文摘CN-85 detector which covered with boric acid H3Bo3 pellete has been irradiated by thermal neutrons from (241Am-9Be) source with activity 12 Ci and neutron flux 105 n. cm-2. s-1. The irradiation times-TD for detector were 4 h, 8 h, 16 h and 24 h. The track detector has been etched with sodium hydroxide. After chemical etching of the irradiated CN-85 detector, the images have been taken from a digital camera connected to the optical microscope. Image processing for the output images has been performed using MATALB program, and these images were analyzed and we had found the following relations: a) The relation between summation of opened track or surface density for tracks (intensity-IT) varies with radius of opening (track radius-RT). b) The relation between the tracks number-NT varies with the tracks diameter-DT (in micrometer) and tracks area-AT. That analysis of image processing was obtained, and the track intensity-IT was decreased with increase of track radius-RT at all of the irradiation time-TD. And the track intensity-IT was increased with increasing irradiation time-TD (h) for different track radius-RT (0.4225, 0.845, 1.2675 and 1.69 μm). The study indicates the possibility of using the analysis of image processing to CN-85 detector for classification of α-particle emitters through limitation of radius of track-RT, in addition to the contribution of these techniques in preparation of nano-filters and nono-membrane in nanotechnology fields.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Fundation of China(Grant Nos.1110510611375144&11275153)
文摘Recently, Sandia Laboratories developed a neutron scatter camera to detect special nuclear materials. This camera exhibits the following advantages: high efficiency, direction discrimination, neutron-gamma discrimination ability, and wide field of view. However, using the direct projection method, the angular resolution of this camera is limited by uncertainties in the energies estimated from pulse height and time of flight measurements. In this study, we established an eight-element neutron scatter camera and conducted the experiment with a ^(252)Cf neutron source. The results show that it has an angular resolution better than 8°(1s) and a detection efficiency of approximately 2.6′10-4. Using maximum likelihood expectation maximization method, the image artifact was eliminated, and the angular resolution was improved. We proposed an average scattering angle method to estimate the scattering energy of neutrons and Compton gamma rays. As such, we can obtain a recognizable image and energy spectrum of the source with some degradation of energy and image resolutions. Finally, a newly measured light response function based on the MPD^(-4) device was used for image reconstruction. Although we did not obtain a better result than that of the standard light response function, we have observed the effects of light response function on image reconstruction.
基金the College Foundation Project,the College of Engineering and Technology of Chengdu University of Technology(No.C122018029)。
文摘A simpler and improved utility approximate point scattered function for thin-film converters currently used in neutron photographic devices is proposed as a correction method to produce clearer,more realistic images.The validity of the model was demonstrated through a simulation experiment.Based on the results,an error analysis was carried out,certain corrections were made to the original model,and the final model achieved a very low relative error in the simulation experiment.The model can also be optimized for quantitative neutron photographic analysis using iterative algorithms to obtain realistic neutron photographic images more quickly.At the end of the article,the model is extended to consider the case of energy spectrum hardening by introducing a temperature correction parameter.
基金supported in part by NSFC under Grants No.11975046 and No.11575022。
文摘LIGO/Virgo S190814 bv is the first high-probability neutron star–black hole(NSBH)merger candidate,whose gravitational waves(GWs)triggered LIGO/Virgo detectors at21:10:39.012957 UT,14 August 2019.It has a probability>99%of being an NSBH merger,with a low false alarm rate(FAR)of one per 1.559 e+25 years.For an NSBH merger,electromagnetic counterparts(especially short gamma-ray bursts(GRBs))are generally expected.However,no electromagnetic counterpart has been found in the extensive follow-up observing campaign.In the present work,we propose a novel explanation for this null result.In our scenario,LIGO/Virgo S190814 bv is just a GW mirror image of the real NSBH merger which should have been detected before 14 September 2015,but at that time we had no ability to detect its GW signals.The electromagnetic counterparts associated with the real NSBH merger should be found in the archive data before 14 September 2015.In this work,we indeed find nine short GRBs that are possibly electromagnetic counterparts.
