Study of computerized tomography using neutron beam

This paper aims to demonstrate the advantages, shortcomings and complementaries of a tomography development using neutrons over the one employing gamma rays in the context of their applications to non destructive essays. A simulated experimental study was performed in order to compare the two aforementioned tomographic procedures as applied to some materials. These materials were chosen for their clear advantages and complementaries as, for instance, aluminium, iron, plastic and aluminium hydroxide. In this work two tomographic systems, are employed both with parallel beams. The first with a gamma radiation source (Caesium-137), with an energy of 662 KeV and an activity of 3,9 x 109 Bq (100 mCi) and the second one employing a neutron source, the Argonaut Reactor of the Instituto de Engenharia Nuclear, IEN/CNEN, from where the thermal neutron beam of about 105 n/(cm.s) was obtained. It is possible to conclude from the simulated and experimental results, by means of image analysis and distortion measurements, that for a given material the adequate radiation and its energy may be chosen so as to better characterize it. (author)