New Measurements on Borated Neutron Imaging Screens at Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC)

Abstract

Abstract The most commonly used screens for neutron imaging consist of 6LiF+ZnS. This type of screen yields the highest light output per detected neutron. For high resolution, gadolinium-oxisulfide (Gadox) screens are employed, which have a much higher detection efficiency, but a light output much lower than LiF+ZnS that measurements are often limited by photon statistics. Screens using boron as neutron sensitive material have not been very successful in the past but recently, a new preparation method was introduced that combines light output 5-6 times higher than Gadox with detection efficiency larger than LiF+ZnS. Previous measurements were performed at FRM II, Garching, and ILL, Grenoble, which already matched a Gadox screen in resolution, but still contained too many inhomogeneities in the detector material’s grains to produce an optimized detector. We report about the most recent measurements of new borated screens produced with an improved milling process at the NORMA facility at Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC), in comparison to a high resolution Gadox screen.