Provided herein are systems and methods for generating a plurality of different monoenergetic neutron energies using a plurality of interchangeable ion beam targets. In certain embodiments, each of the plurality of ion beam targets is configured to generate a monoenergetic energy value that is at least 100 kiloelectron volts (keV) different from the other ion beam targets. In some embodiments, the ion beam targets are composed of LiF, TiD.sub.1.5-1.8, TiT.sub.1-2, ErD.sub.1.5, ErT, or Li.

A sensor for detecting particles is presented comprises a silicon wafer substrate and a charge detection layer mounted on the silicon wafer substrate, wherein the charge detection layer comprises a plurality of discrete pixel sensors. The sensor further comprises a converter material, wherein the converter material is operable to interact with a first type of particle to generate a reaction, wherein the reaction produces charged particles, wherein the charge detection layer is configured to detect the charged particles produced by the reaction. Further, the sensor comprises a substrate layer operable to filter a second type of particle, wherein the converter material is coated on an underside of the substrate layer such that the converter material faces the charge detection layer and an air gap is formed between the converter material and the charge detection layer.

A nondestructive inspection apparatus makes a neutron beam incident on an inspection target, detects a specific gamma ray deriving from a target component in the inspection target, among gamma rays generated by the neutron beam, and determines a depth at which the target component exists, based on a result of the detecting. The nondestructive inspection apparatus includes a neutron source that emits a neutron beam to a surface of the inspection target, a gamma ray detection device that detects, as detection intensities, intensities of a plurality of types of specific gamma rays whose energy differs from each other, and a ratio calculation unit that determines a ratio between the detection intensities of a plurality of types of the specific gamma rays.

A neutron imaging device employs a neutron source including a sealed enclosure, gamma ray detector(s) spaced from the neutron source, and particle detector(s) disposed in the sealed enclosure of the neutron source. The output of the particle detector(s) can be used to obtain a direction of particles generated by the neutron source and corresponding directions of neutrons generated by the neutron source. Such information can be processed to determine locations in the surrounding borehole environment where the secondary gamma rays are generated and determine data representing formation density at such locations. In one aspect, the gamma ray detector(s) of the neutron imaging device can include at least one scintillation crystal with shielding disposed proximate opposite ends of the scintillation crystal. In another aspect, the particle detector(s) of the neutron imaging device can include a resistive anode encoder having a ceramic substrate and resistive glaze.

A computer implemented method of detecting neutrons in images from a tunable sensor system comprises training a deep learning process to recognize known radiation-dependent signature patterns created by neutrons in test images. The method further comprises splitting an input image into a plurality of frames and passing the plurality of frames through the deep learning process in order to recognize neutrons in the plurality of frames. Subsequently, the method comprises recombining the plurality of frames back into the input image. For each pixel within the input image, the method comprises examining pixels connected to a respective pixel to determine if a signature pattern particular to neutrons is present within the input image and counting a number of neutrons within the input image using results from the examining.

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.

A portable neutron generating system for SNM inspection that includes charge storage device configured to store a high voltage electrical charge and a controller to selectively electrically connect the charge to a plasma generator. The plasma generator is configured to generate a plasma, which in turn generates neutrons, in response to the electrical charge being provided to the plasma generator. A high voltage switch is located between the charge storage device and the plasma generator and is configured to electrically discharge the high voltage charge on the charge storage device to the plasma generator. The plasma generator is removably attachable to the portable neutron generating system such that it may be easily removed from the portable neutron generating system when the gas inside the plasma generator is at end of life and a refreshed plasma generator easily connected to the portable neutron generating system.

In a general aspect, a collimator system is described. In some aspects, a neutron beam collimation method includes receiving a neutron beam from a neutron source; polarizing the neutron beam using a polarizer, and obtaining a collimated neutron beam from the polarized neutron beam. The neutron beam generated by the neutron source has a first beam divergence and includes a plurality of neutrons. The collimated neutron beam has a second beam divergence that is less than the first beam divergence. Obtaining the collimated neutron beam includes mapping transverse momentum of each respective neutron, of the plurality of neutrons, onto a polarization degree of freedom of the respective neutron by applying a sequence of phase shift gradients to the polarized neutron beam, and after applying the sequence of phase shift gradients, passing the polarized neutron beam through an analyzer.

Disclosed is a nondestructive inspection system includes: a radiation source system generating different types of radiations and irradiating the generated different types of radiations toward an inspection object; a detector system detecting each of the radiations transmitted through the inspection object; a transfer system varying a position of the inspection object such that the radiations generated by the radiation source system are irradiated to the inspection object; and an image system generating an image regarding the inspection object on the basis of a detection result from the detector system, wherein the radiation source system comprises: an electron gun generating an electron beam; an electron accelerator accelerating the electron beam generated by the electron gun; and a target system selectively generating at least one of various types of radiations according to variables when the electron beam accelerated by the electron accelerator is irradiated thereto.

The present disclosure relates to a time-gated fast neutron transmission radiography system and method. The system makes use of a pulsed neutron source for producing neutrons in a plurality of directions, with at least a subplurality of the neutrons being directed at an object to be imaged. The system also includes a neutron detector system configured to time-gate the detection of neutrons emitted from the pulsed neutron source to within a time-gated window.