Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Tomography and elemental analysis using neutrons in transmission

  • Nuclear Analytical Methods in Biology and Medicine
  • Published:
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Expressions for the calculation of minimum detectable mass and length fractions of elements, compounds and mixtures in a sample using neutron attenuation coefficients are derived, based on previous work done with photon attenuation coefficients. These expression allow quantitative information about elemental concentration to be extracted from neutron transmission measurements and neutron transmission tomography. Calculations are carried out for the detectable mass fraction of hydrogen in a number of sample matrices of industrial interest and of elements in a water matrix highlighting the differences with photon attenuation measurements. Results are presented for three neutron energies, cold (0.001 eV), thermal (0.025 eV) and fast (14 MeV).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. G. HARDING, J. KOSANETZLEY, X-ray scatter imaging in non-destructive testing, in: Tomography and Scatter imaging—applications in NDT, N. MacCUAIG and R. HOLT (Eds), IoP Short Meeting Series 19, IoP Publishing Ltd., Bristol, UK, 1989. p. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  2. C. R. BEMROSE, P. FOWLES, M. R. HAWKESWORTH, M. A. O'DWYER, Nucl. Instr. Methods, A273 (1988) 874.

    Google Scholar 

  3. D. J. FINNIGAN, I. G. HUTCHINSON, Application of emission tomography to radioactive tracer studies on an experimental high pressure boiler, in: Tomography and scatter imaging—applications in NDT, N. MacCUAIG, and R. HOLT (Eds), IoP Short Meeting Series 19, IoP Publishing Ltd., Bristol, UK, 1989, p. 99.

    Google Scholar 

  4. N. M. SPYROU, F. A. BALOGUN, G. DAVIES, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 113 (1987) 417.

    Google Scholar 

  5. N. M. SPYROU, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 110 (1987) 641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. J. SHARAF, N. M. SPYROU, Elemental composition of salivary gland stones using tomography by gamma-ray transmission and neutron induced gamma-ray emission techniques, 8th Int. Conf. Modern Trends in Activation Analysis, Vienna, 16–20 September, 1991.

  7. G. DAVIES, N. M. SPYROU, I. G. HUTCHINSON, J. HUDDLESTON, Nucl. Instr. Meth. Phys. Res., A242 (1986) 615.

    Google Scholar 

  8. N. M. SPYROU, Tomography and elemental analysis of biological systems, in: Nuclear Analytical Methods in the Life Sciences, R. ZEISLER and V. P. GUINN (Eds), Humana Press, Clifton, New Jersey, 1990, p. 75.

    Google Scholar 

  9. N. M. SPYROU, KUSMINARTO, G. E. NICOLAU, J. Radioanal. Nucl. Chem., 112 (1987) 57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. C. F. BARTON, Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 28 (1977) 212.

    Google Scholar 

  11. G. D. ZAKAIB, A. A. HARMS, J. VLACHOPOULOS, Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc., 65 (1978) 145.

    Google Scholar 

  12. K. KOURIS, N. M. SPYROU, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 153 (1978) 477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. K. KOURIS, N. M. SPYROU, D. F. JACKSON, Nucl. Instr. Methods, 187 (1981) 539.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. The Nuclear Research Centre, Karlsruhe, KEDAK-3, The Neutron Data File, 1975.

  15. V. McLAINE, C. L. DUNFORD, P. F. ROSE, Neutron Cross-section curves, Vol. 2, Academic Press, London, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Z. TABATABAIAN, E. P. EFSTATHOPOULOS, N. M. SPYROU, Minimum detectable quantities of elements and compounds in industrial and biological matrices using neutron attenuation techniques (to be published).

  17. T. D. BEYNON, R. N. PINK, Nature, 238 (1980) 749.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Surrey, GU2 5XH, Guildford, Surrey, UK

    N. M. Spyrou

Authors
  1. N. M. Spyrou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Spyrou, N.M. Tomography and elemental analysis using neutrons in transmission. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, Articles 179, 285–294 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02040163

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02040163

Keywords

Search

Navigation