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High-resolution neutron radiography provides novel and stirring opportunities to investigate the structures of light elements encased by heavy elements. For this study, a series of Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were prepared using a high-temperature solid phase method and then used as a scintillation screen. Upon reaching 293 nm excitation, a bright green emission originated from the Tb3+ luminescence center. The level of F doping affected the fluorescence intensity. When the F doping level was 8 mol%, the fluorescence intensity was at its highest. The absolute quantum yield of the synthesized particles reached as high as 77.21%. Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles were applied to the scintillation screen, showing a resolution on the neutron radiograph as high as 12 μm. These results suggest that the highly efficient Gd2O2S:Tb, F particles are promising scintillators for the purposes of cold neutron radiography.

A novel non-destructive testing scanning system based on a large-size line array fast neutron detector and compact D-T neutron source has been constructed. The scanning range is up to 1000 mm, and the resolution is better than 1 mm. The fast neutron detection subsystem consists of a polypropylene zinc sulfide scintillator embedded with wavelength-shifting fibers, coupled with a light lens and a scientific CCD camera. With a new rotating tritium target, the lifetime of the compact D-T neutron source could achieve ten hours. The experimental results indicate that the scanning method based on line array fast neutron detector and D-T neutron source is feasible and enables the detection of slits on the order of 0.5 mm in width. Fast neutron tomography has been realized by this detection system too.