Real-Time Neutron Radiography at the IEA-R1m Nuclear Research Reactor

A LIXI(Light Intensifier X-ray Image) device has been employed in a real-time neutron radiography system. The LIXI is coupled to a video camera and the real-time images can be observed in a TV monitor, and processed in a computer. In order to get the real-time system operational, the neutron radiography facility installed at the IEA-R1m nuclear research reactor of the IPEN-CNEN/SP has been optimized. The most important improvements were the neutron/gamma ratio, the effective energy of the neutron beam, decrease of the scattered radiation at the irradiation position, and the additional shielding of the video camera. Several one-frame as well as computer processed images are presented. The overall Modulation Transfer Function for the real-time system was obtained from the resolution parameter p = 0.44± 0.04mm; the system sensitivity, evaluated for a Perspex step wedge, was determined and the average value is 0.70± 0.09mm.