Claims
- 1. A device for conducting neutron radiography comprising:
- an on/off sealed tube neutron generator using solely a deuterium target for emitting relatively low energy neutrons having an energy level of approximately 3 MeV and an unthermalized neutron yield of at least approximately 1.times.10.sup.10 D-D n/second,
- a maneuverable inspection head supporting said neutron generator and having moderating fluid therein to thermalize the neutrons emitted from the neutron source, and
- collimator means for directing said thermalized neutrons to an imaging plane to produce a thermal neutron radiograph.
- 2. The neutron radiography device according to claim 1 wherein said neutron generator produces low energy neutrons having an energy level of approximately 3 MeV.
- 3. The neutron radiography device according to claim 1 wherein said neutron generator produces a thermal neutron flux availabe at the imaging plane of the collimator of at least approximately 0.5.times.10.sup.5 n/cm.sup.2 -second.
- 4. A radiography device comprising:
- a high intensity neutron generator for generating an unthermalized neutron yield of at least approximately 1.times.10.sup.10 D-D n/second by the bombardment of a target comprised solely of deuterium by a beam of deuterium ions, said neutrons having an energy level of approximately 3 MeV,
- a maneurvering inspection head supporting said neutron generator and having moderating fluid therein to thermalize the neutrons emitted from the neutron generator, and
- means for directing said thermalized neutrons to produce a thermal neutron radiograph.
- 5. The neutron radiography device according to claim 4 wherein said neutron generator produces a thermal neutron flux available at the imaging plane of the collimator of at least approximately 0.5.times.10.sup.5 n/cm.sup.2 -second.
- 6. The neutron radiography device according to claim 4 wherein said neutron generator produces a thermal neutron flux available at the imaging plane of the collimator of at least approximately 0.5.times.10.sup.5 n/cm.sup.2 -second.
- 7. A method of neutron generation for use in neutron radiography comprising:
- using a high intensity neutron generator to generate an unthermalized neutron beam having a yield of at least approximately 1.times.10.sup.10 D-D n/second and having energy on the order of 3 MeV by bombardment of a target comprised solely of deuterium ions,
- moderating said beam to a predetermined thermal level, and
- directing said beam to produce a thermal neutron radiograph.
- 8. The method according to claim 7 wherein said low energy neutron beam is moderated to 0.025 eV.
- 9. The method according to claim 7 wherein said moderating of said beam is by directing said neutron beam into an inspection head having moderating fluid therein whereby said neutrons are moderated to a predetermined energy level.
- 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein directing said beam comprises positioning a collimator with one end in the inspection head to receive the moderated neutrons and direct said neutrons for producing a radiograph.
- 11. The method according to claim 7 wherein said moderated beam provides a thermal neutron flux of at least approximately 0.5.times.10.sup.5 n/cm.sup.2 -second.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 742,193, filed June 7, 1985 now abandoned, which is a continuation in-part of application Ser. No. 438,627 filed Nov. 2, 1982, now abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (8)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1217515 |
Dec 1970 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Materials Evaluation, vol. 29, No. 4, 4/71, pp. 69-74, Wilson et al. |
Nuclear Instruments & Methods, vol. 92, No. 4, 1971, pp. 613-617, Spowart. |
Nuclear Technology, vol. 14, 6/72, pp. 279-283, Vasilik et al. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
742193 |
Jun 1985 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
438627 |
Nov 1982 |
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