Neutron tomography

Neutron tomography is a form of computed tomography involving the production of three-dimensional images by the detection of the absorbance of neutrons produced by a neutron source.^[1] It created a three-dimensional image of an object by combining multiple planar images with a known separation.^[2] It has a resolution of around 200–500 μm.^[3] Whilst its resolution is lower than that of X-ray tomography, it can be useful for specimens containing low contrast between the matrix and object of interest; for instance, fossils with a high carbon content, such as plants or vertebrate remains.^[4]

Neutron tomography can have the unfortunate side-effect of leaving imaged samples radioactive if they contain appreciable levels of certain elements.^[4]

See also

• Winkler, B. (2006). "Applications of Neutron Radiography and Neutron Tomography". Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 63: 459. doi:10.2138/rmg.2006.63.17.  edit
• Schwarz, D.; Vontobel, P. L., Eberhard, H., Meyer, C. A. & Bongartz, G. (2005). "Neutron tomography of internal structures of vertebrate remains: a comparison with X-ray computed tomography" (PDF). Paleontol. Electronica 8 (30). http://palaeo-electronica.org/2005_2/neutron/neutron.pdf. 

References

1. ^ Grünauer, F.; Schillinger, B.; Steichele, E. (2004). "Optimization of the beam geometry for the cold neutron tomography facility at the new neutron source in Munich". Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine 61 (4): 479–485. doi:10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.03.073. PMID 15246387.  edit
2. ^ McClellan Nuclear Radiation Center
3. ^ "Neutron Tomography". Paul Scherrer Institut. http://neutra.web.psi.ch/What/tomo.html. 
4. ^ ^{a b} Sutton, M. D. (2008). "Tomographic techniques for the study of exceptionally preserved fossils". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 275 (1643): 1587–1593. doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.0263. PMC 2394564. PMID 18426749. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=2394564.  edit