Bimodal Imaging at ICON Using Neutrons and X-rays

Publication date: 2017 Source:Physics Procedia, Volume 88 Author(s): A.P. Kaestner, J. Hovind, P. Boillat, C. Muehlebach, C. Carminati, M. Zarebanadkouki, E.H. Lehmann For experiments with low contrast between the relevant features it can be beneficial to add a second modality to reduce ambiguity. At Paul Scherrer Institut the two neutron imaging facilities NEUTRA (thermal neutrons) and ICON (cold neutrons) we have installed X-ray beamlines for on-site bimodal imaging with neutrons and X-rays. This allows us to leave the sample untouched in the sample environment throughout an experiment and to reduce the waiting times between acquisitions using each modality. The applications and energy ranges of the X-ray installations are different at the two facilities. At NEUTRA larger samples are intended (60-320kV) and at ICON small samples and simultaneous acquisition are intended (40-150kV). Here, we report the more recent installation at ICON. The X-ray beamline uses a cone beam source and is arranged across the neutron beamline. The beamline is designed to allow up to ten times magnification. This matches the voxel-size that can be achieved with the micro-setup for neutrons. The oblique arrangement of the X-ray beamline further makes real-time acquisition possible since both modalities have a free view of the sample at any time. Reconstruction of cone beam data requires more knowledge about the beam geometry and sample position. Therefore, the beamline is equipped with las...
Source: Physics Procedia - Category: Physics Source Type: research