A Neutron Optical Periscope Used for Neutron Imaging

A standard neutron guide is ill suited for neutron imaging, because reflections in the guide destroy the collimation of the neutron beam and let the cross-section of the neutron guide act as a divergent area source. Good neutron imaging installations use a flight tube instead, but with direct sight they also have a large background of gamma radiation and fast and epithermal neutrons. With the availability of highm super mirrors, it has now become possible to build a neutron optical periscope that eliminates direct sight with two plain optical reflections only, without destroying the beam collimation ratio. At the FRM II reactor of Technische Universita\textasciidieresis{} t Mu\textasciidieresis{} nchen, several prototypes have been built and tested. Several neutron periscopes will be installed during the upgrade of the ANTARES neutron imaging facility in 2009/2010.     «

A standard neutron guide is ill suited for neutron imaging, because reflections in the guide destroy the collimation of the neutron beam and let the cross-section of the neutron guide act as a divergent area source. Good neutron imaging installations use a flight tube instead, but with direct sight they also have a large background of gamma radiation and fast and epithermal neutrons. With the availability of highm super mirrors, it has now become possible to build a neutron optical periscope tha...     »