Characteristics of Imaging Plate for Neutron Imaging

Abstract

  A linearity between a number of neutrons and an intensity of photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL), a statistical character of PSL signal, a repeated readout characteristics, and a radiation induced effects were studied as a basic character of an imaging plate (IP) for neutron detection. While five decades of linearity range was approximately assumed, a slight discrepancy from an exact proportionality was observed. As results of statistical studies, it is found that the fluctuation of neutron quanta is the main source of the statistical fluctuation of PSL signals. When the IP readings was successively repeated up to 20 times for neutron images, and 100 times for an X-ray image, the PSL intensity was approximated to be proportional to a reciprocal of the repeated number. Beams of 1 MeV and 2 MeV He⁺ ions, fission neutrons, and gamma rays were irradiated onto an IP for ³H detection, deterioration characteristics were compared each other. An incomplete erasing effect and a self-generation of PSL signals were found. Moreover, a degree of neutron activation was measured. Some discussions are attempted for these basic characteristics in this study.