Credit: Nuclear Science and Techniques
Neutrons, known for their ability to penetrate materials deeply, are key in nondestructive material analysis. Techniques like Neutron Resonance Analysis (NRA) and its variant, Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis (NRTA), use these properties to identify elements and isotopes inside materials without damaging them. NRTA has been proven useful in various fields, from characterizing reference materials to analyzing cultural artifacts. The China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) Back-n facility, with its wide-ranging neutron beam, stands out in this field, offering precise material insights and acting as a new promising platform in nondestructive testing.
A feasibility study conducted at CSNS Back-n facility, recently published in the journal of Nuclear Science and Techniques, demonstrates a significant prospect of NRTA in nondestructive nuclide identification.
The study explores the use of NRTA, a nondestructive method for identifying elemental compositions, at the newly established Back-n time-of-flight facility. This facility operates with neutrons ranging from eV to 300 MeV, offering a broad spectrum for detailed analysis. This research at CSNS Back-n, a collaborative effort involving multiple prestigious institutions such as the Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the University of Science and Technology of China, marks a major advancement in the field of nondestructive material analysis. The study utilizes the Back-n facility's unique capabilities, operating across a broad neutron energy spectrum from eV to 300 MeV, enabling detailed and precise material analysis. This facility, a part of the large scientific and technological collaboration across China, brings together experts from various fields, including archaeometry, nuclear physics, and nuclear technology, to push the boundaries of nondestructive testing using NRTA.
The research involves conducting test experiments on various samples, demonstrating the feasibility of using NRTA for precise element and isotope identification. The study also delves into the potential applications of this method in various fields, including cultural heritage preservation and material characterization. Lead researchers Yong-Hao Chen and Jing-Yu Tang, and co-authors highlight the unique capabilities of the Back-n facility in advancing nondestructive techniques for material analysis.
The successful implementation of NRTA marks CSNS Back-n facility as a new standard for noninvasive material analysis. It presents an approach for accurately identifying materials without causing any damage or alteration, significantly impacting scientific research across multiple disciplines.
Reference
Title of original paper
| Nondestructive technique for identifying nuclides using neutron resonance transmission analysis at CSNS Back-n |
Journal | Nuclear Science and Techniques Nuclear Science and Techniques (NST) reports scientific findings, technical advances and important results in the fields of nuclear science and techniques. The aim of this periodical is to stimulate cross-fertilization of knowledge among scientists and engineers working in the fields of nuclear research. |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1007/s41365-024-01367-8 |
Funding information
The National Natural Science Foundation of China (12035017);
Youth Innovation Promotion Association CAS (2023014);
The Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2020A1515010360 and 2022B1515120032)
