Cold neutron radiographic apparatus and method

Cold neutron radiography may be improved by matching neutron temperature to the specific material to be analyzed. It is possible to bombard the material with neutrons having the precise average temperature necessary to realize the minimum attenuation coefficient, or to choose a neutron temperature that would increase the attenuation by inclusions, defects, etc., or to choose a neutron temperature that provides a good balance between sample transmission and defect attenuation. Other neutron temperatures might also be chosen for other reasons. This may be done by having a source of neutrons embedded in a moderator material, such as solid methane, and cooling the moderator material to the desired temperature by a cryogenic refrigerator. In another embodiment, neutrons from a nuclear reactor are passed through a moderator cooled by a cryogenic refrigerator. Since the neutron temperature is matched to the material being radiographically inspected, improved contrast and resolution can be obtained through thicker materials than it has heretofore been possible to analyze by cold neutron radiography. More optimum filtering of a neutron beam is also achieved by using a cryogenic refrigerator to cool the neutron beam filter. (auth)