Design of moderator and collimator based on compact D-T neutron source for neutron imaging

ABSTRACT

The Compact thermal neutron imaging systems have become an important development trend. Compact thermal neutron imaging systems can use neutron tubes as neutron sources because of their low cost, small size, and portability. In order to achieve optimal imaging quality, the moderator and collimator in a neutron imaging system based on neutron tubes source are designed and simulated using SuperMC. The entrance position of the collimator is determined by analyzing the performance of different materials with their parameter’s optimization. It is suggested that a cylinder-shaped structure made of carbon, hydrogenous materials, and heavy metals can significantly increase the thermal neutron flux at the sample location. Further dimension optimization is carried out to improve the neutron beam collimation performance. A vertically divergent collimator with a divergence angle of 5° and an air gap is selected, along with the addition of a B₄C lining material. According to the modelling results, the sample position can be as far away from the neutron source as 77 cm with a neutron source yield of 1.14 × 10⁹ n/s. The collimation ratio is 29, the thermal neutron flux is 1.08 × 10³ n/cm²·s, and n/γ is 1.44 × 10¹² n/cm²·Sv, which is suitable for thermal neutron radiography.

KEYWORDS:

• Thermal neutron radiography
• neutron tube
• Monte Carlo
• moderator and collimator device
• SuperMC

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant No. 12105040] and Youth Growth Technology Project of Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province [Grant No. 20210508027RQ].