IMAGING PERFORMANCE OF IMAGING PLATE NEUTRON DETECTORS

A new series of experimental imaging plate neutron detectors (IP-NDs) were made, where the composition of the respective IP-NDs, containing a photostimulable BaFBr:Eu2+ phosphor and a neutron converter material , Gd2O3 or (LiF)-Li-6, were varied systematically. The different conve rsion processes between natural abundant Gd and Li-6 caused distinct i maging properties. The imaging steps and the factors governing the ima ge quality are considered in the same way as X-ray radiography, and th e quantum noise is estimated by the effective neutron absorption in th ese IP-NDs when they are read by a BAS2000 image reader. From this poi nt of view, Gd is superior to Li-6, but Li-6 is expected to be more su ited to imaging than Gd in higher gamma-ray to neutron ratios because of its higher amplification rate in the conversion and excitation proc ess.