The Signal Chain - how the Removal of an Image Intensifier at the AERE Reactor in Bangladesh Improves Neutron Imaging

Most neutron imaging systems use a neutron sensitive scintillation screen and camera. Due to the highly exothermic nature of the detection reaction, many thousand photons are produced for one detected neutron. If an additional image intensifier is used, the signal generated by very few neutrons may saturate the camera without delivering sufficient neutron statistics to examine a neutron radiography sample. This article takes a look at the signal chain for neutron radiography and tries to give some help for estimating required statistics and exposure times.