Neutron gamma fraction imaging: Detection, location and identification of neutron sources

In this paper imaging of neutron sources and identification and separation of a neutron source from another neutron source is described. The system is based upon organic liquid scintillator detector, tungsten collimator, bespoke fast digitiser and adjustable equatorial mount. Three environments have been investigated with this setup corresponding to an AmBe neutron source, a 252Cf neutron source and both sources together separated in space. In each case, events are detected, digitised, discriminated and radiation images plotted corresponding to the area investigated. The visualised neutron count distributions clearly locate the neutron source and, relative gamma to neutron (or neutron to gamma) fraction images aid in discriminating AmBe sources from 252Cf source. The measurements were performed in the low scatter facility of the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington, UK.