Basics of Neutron Imaging

Abstract

Neutron imaging is established at many neutron sources around the world as a method for noninvasive investigations of samples and object on the macroscopic scale. Similarly to X-ray imaging, it provides the possibility to “look through” materials and allows one to “see” the inner, hidden content. However, owing to the complete different interaction mechanism, neutron imaging provides very different and complementary contrasts compared to X-rays, even if the image quality often is about the same. We report about the method’s principles, describe the state of the art, and give an outlook for new trends and developments.