IMAT Commissioning: Detailed characterization of an intensified thermal neutron camera

In phase 1 of the Photek B4I program to evaluate a new thermal neutron imager, a lower cost and simpler detector based on GADOX phosphor deposited directly onto a standard image intensifier performed as well or better than the neutron MCP devices originally envisioned. Based on these results Photek has moved forward with the design and fabrication of a full scale prototype of a neutron camera using this alternative technology, GADOX directly deposited onto a 75 mm diameter Image Intensifier readout by a cooled sCMOS camera and containing a remote focus mechanism. Using IMAT we will determine the detector’s overall stability, intrinsic imaging resolution, and effective detection efficiency, confirming that the design deficiencies from the initial test detectors have been successfully addressed.在用于评估新型热中子成像仪的Photek B4I项目第一阶段中，一款基于直接沉积于标准图像增强器（Image Intensifier）的GADOX闪烁体的低成本、更简易探测器，其表现不亚于甚至优于最初设想的中子微通道板（Microchannel Plate, MCP）器件。基于上述测试结果，Photek已推进采用该替代技术的中子相机全尺寸原型的设计与制造：将GADOX直接沉积于75毫米直径的图像增强器上，由制冷型科学互补金属氧化物半导体（scientific Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor, sCMOS）相机完成信号读出，并集成远程聚焦机构。我们将借助IMAT开展该探测器的整体稳定性、本征成像分辨率以及有效探测效率的量化表征，验证初始测试探测器存在的设计缺陷已得到妥善解决。