Neutron imaging using a conventional small-angle neutron scattering instrument

Neutron imaging has enjoyed a flurry of activity and application in recent years. The construction of dedicated beamlines at various neutron sources has demonstrated the significant interest among the science and engineering communities, with particular relevance to industrial applications, the nondestructive testing of components and imaging of precious archaeological artefacts. Here two methods are demonstrated of how neutron imaging can be performed using a conventional small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) instrument, such as D33 at the Institut Laue–Langevin, with spatial resolutions down to about 100 µm. The first is a magnified imaging technique from a quasi-point-like source with the magnified image recorded on the usual low-resolution SANS detector. The second method uses a fine beam in a raster-scan measurement over the area of interest. Images can be reconstructed either using the transmitted beam, as in conventional radiographic imaging, or from scattering data, giving access to transmission radiographic images as well as the dark-field or scattering contrasts and phase-contrast images.