CHARACTERIZATION OF AN IMAGE-PLATE DETECTOR USED FOR QUANTITATIVE SMALL-ANGLE-SCATTERING STUDIES

This paper describes the characterization of an image-plate readout sy stem used to calculate small-angle-scattering intensities as cross sec tions per unit volume. The raw data are the latent phosphorescent exci tations stored on an image plate. Self-decay, self exposure, resolutio n, smearing, dynamic range and sensitivity are measured. Preliminary e xperiments show that an inexpensive neutron-imaging system can be obta ined when the plates are placed behind a suitable neutron-to-X-ray con verter.