The use of neutron imaging at research reactors or spallation neutron sources for industrial applications such as non-destructive examination and testing has already been proven in industrialized countries. This technique allows for studies of a material’s characteristics, strength, integrity, and durability without inflicting permanent damage to the material itself. The advantage of neutrons, compared to X rays, is that they are sensitive to many light elements, have deeper penetration length in metals and heavy elements, and are also sensitive to magnetic structures or externally applied fields. Furthermore, as neutron imaging technology has advanced, the individual techniques based on this type of imaging have become more precise and efficient as well as much faster, specifically in the field of digital radiography (two-dimensional), computed tomography (three-dimensional), energy?selective neutron imaging or dynamic (real-time) neutron imaging. The last ten years have seen phenomenal growth in direct digital methods, which now provide excellent image quality and increase the manageability of computational analytical power and the ability to better process and analyse data. Today the major fields in which neutron imaging is applied include the mining, oil and petroleum industries, car and aviation industries, archaeology, cultural heritage, environment and building materials, biology, medicine, physics, and the energy sector (ranging from the nuclear power industry to new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and lithium batteries).
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA’s) Research Reactor Database (RRDB, http://nucleus.iaea.org/RRDB/) indicates that more than 50 research reactors (out of ~240 operational reactors worldwide) seem to operate digital neutron radiography facilities. In addition, there is a number of additional neutron imaging facilities installed or planned at neutron spallation sources in several countries (e.g. Japan, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America). However, the actual growth in use of these neutron imaging facilities is still well below its potential, particularly in developing countries, for a number of reasons: the need for modernization of instrumentation and software; insufficient experience and qualifications of the personnel involved in these advanced subjects; an inclination to adapt the technology to specific user needs; and the establishment of new protocols and standardization procedures, including the development of marketing strategies.
In 2015–2016, through a comprehensive survey that was jointly prepared and coordinated by the IAEA and the International Society for Neutron Radiology (ISNR), a specific database of neutron imaging facilities was launched and established. This database contains (status as of January 2017) detailed technical information from 48 digital neutron imaging facilities worldwide. In addition, recently some dedicated round robin exercises have been organized by the IAEA, with the main purpose being to characterize and evaluate the performance capabilities of operational neutron imaging facilities, and to develop concrete actions for enhancing their performance and utilization.
During this workshop, the status of the above initiatives will be critically evaluated and discussed. This workshop also aims to disseminate technology, knowledge and experience related to neutron imaging applications and the benefits that these can bring to industry. Finally, it will serve to strengthen contacts and cooperation between methodology experts, facility managers and end users, including industrial partners.
This event is already the 3rd in the series of the IAEA workshops on Advanced Use of Neutron Imaging for Research and Applications (AUNIRA) with the 1st held in Berlin (Germany) in 2013 and the 2nd in Villigen (Switzerland) in 2015.
