NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY OF THICK HYDROGENOUS MATERIALS WITH USE OF AN IMAGING PLATE NEUTRON DETECTOR

The value of the neutron mass attenuation coefficient of hydrogen bein g very high, it is extremely difficult to image normal size, living an imals with neutron radiography. However, the authors suggest the possi bility of applying neutron radiography for biomedical specimens. The o rgans in the breast, bones and cartilages in the extremities, and the tail of mice and rats were clearly imaged by neutron radiography with Gd foils as neutron converters and X-ray films. However, no contours o f the organs in the mouse abdomen were visible with neutron radiograph y with an exposure time of 200 s. By adding Gd or Li compounds as neut ron converters to imaging X-ray plates, imaging plates have been devel oped for neutron detectors. A trial using these imaging plates for neu tron radiography of water-filled containers and the abdomen of mice wa s completed. The roundness of a 100 ml-beaker was imaged with a neutro n exposure of 180 s. Obscure contours of the liver and kidneys of the mouse were imaged with a neutron exposure of 100 s.