A Feasibility Study to characterize the performance at RIKEN compact neutron source

Neutron imaging technique is an important tool in Non-Destructive Test (NDT), which has been widely adopted in industrial, medical, metallurgical, nuclear and explosive inspections. Neutron imaging technique must need high neutron flux in order to apply more scientific applications and many nuclear reactors or high-power spallation sources, such as ISIS, J-PARC and SNS facilities have been realized. However, because of costs and the mobility problem, there is a limitation to the application and development of new research fields of neutron imaging. We investigated the performance of RANS using the standard samples and resolution chart. Although there is non-uniformity of the neutron beam, RANS has good resolution and contrast with the material and thickness. A compact neutron source is useful, when the observed object has sufficient sensitivity at the available neutron intensity, time resolution, and spatial resolution. It is suggested that the range of applications of compact neutron sources will be increase further because of their flexibility and availability.