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We have developed a new neutron phase imaging system with a Talbot–Lau interferometer for utilization at the CN-3 port of the Kyoto University Reactor. To achieve efficient differential-phase imaging and visibility (dark-field) imaging at this beamline, we adopted a relatively shorter design wavelength of 2.7 Å. By fabricating neutron absorption gratings with thick gadolinium absorbers, we were able to obtain clear moiré fringes with a high visibility of 55% for thermal neutrons. As a demonstration of its imaging capabilities for expanded actual utilization in the medium-sized sources, we observed additively manufactured rods of Inconel 718. Using visibility imaging, we successfully examined variations in the size of defects in the rods caused by hot isostatic pressing process. In addition, we conducted tomography measurements of the rods, which allowed us to reveal the spatial distribution of defects at sub-micrometer scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy-resolved neutron imaging system, RADEN, has been installed at the pulsed neutron source in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. In addition to conventional neutron radiography and tomography, RADEN, the world's first imaging beam-line at a pulsed neutron source, provides three main options for new, quantitative neutron imaging techniques: Bragg-edge imaging to visualize the spatial distribution of crystallographic information, resonance absorption imaging for elemental composition and temperature information, and polarized neutron imaging for magnetic field information. This paper describes the results of characterization studies of the neutronic performance and installed devices at RADEN and shows the results of several demonstration studies for pulsed neutron imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We have studied the effect of beam collimation on the quality of images obtained with Talbot-Lau interferometry at the RADEN beam line in the J-PARC Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility. By using four typical beam collimations of RADEN, which were determined at a position relatively far from the interferometer, the blurring of images and the average intensity and visibility of interference patterns were observed. From these data, spatial resolutions and measurement precisions of images were experimentally evaluated. The obtained characteristics on each collimation condition are useful to design and optimize a new interferometer, and perform experiments at this beam line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become essential components that power most current technologies, such as smartphones and electric vehicles, thus making various safety evaluations necessary to ensure their safe use. Among these evaluations, heating tests remain the most prominent source of safety issues. However, information on the phenomena occurring inside batteries during heating has remained inaccessible. In this study, we demonstrate the first in situ neutron imaging method to observe the internal structural deformation of LIBs during heating. We developed an airtight aluminium chamber specially designed to prevent radioactive contamination during in situ neutron imaging. We successfully observed the liquid electrolyte fluctuation inside a battery sample and the deformation of the protective plastic film upon heating up to thermal runaway. Hence, this work provides the foundation for future investigations of the internal changes induced in batteries during heating tests and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become essential components that power most current technologies, such as smartphones and electric vehicles, thus making various safety evaluations necessary to ensure their safe use. Among these evaluations, heating tests remain the most prominent source of safety issues. However, information on the phenomena occurring inside batteries during heating has remained inaccessible. In this study, we demonstrate the first in situ neutron imaging method to observe the internal structural deformation of LIBs during heating. We developed an airtight aluminium chamber specially designed to prevent radioactive contamination during in situ neutron imaging. We successfully observed the liquid electrolyte fluctuation inside a battery sample and the deformation of the protective plastic film upon heating up to thermal runaway. Hence, this work provides the foundation for future investigations of the internal changes induced in batteries during heating tests and experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information on the Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging System, called RADEN, developed in the Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility of high intensity proton accelerator facility J-PARC in Japan. It discusses the on-beam commissioning of the RADEN, the resonance absorption imaging, the fundamental specification of RADEN and the two neutron radiographs obtained at the first neutron beam.

Abstract: We have developed a multichannel parabolic guide for thermal neutron beam focusing. The guide was designed with multichannel structure, seven channels in the present case, to focus a neutron beam with wide cross section effectively. The multichannel structure is made with parabolically bent NiC/Ti supermirrors with critical reflection angles and 3.6 times as much as that of nickel and thickness of 0.55mm. The guide consists of two focusing devices with each length of 900mm, which are separated by a gap of 150mm for neutron beta decay experiments. The focal length of the guide is 995mm away from the exit of the guide. The cross section of the guide is at the entrance and at the exit. The guide was installed at a thermal neutron beam line for neutron-induced prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) of JRR-3M in JAEA with straight supermirror guides with . Focusing properties of the parabolic guide were measured at the focal point with a CCD imaging system and we obtained a gain of 9.6 and 4.1 in peak flux compared with those in cases of using the vacuum tube and the straight guide, respectively. The parabolic guide has been successfully used to enhance the efficacy of PGA and have also applied to neutron beta decay experiments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Neutron refractive optics is a powerful tool for beam focusing due to its large effective aperture compared to reflective optics. Because neutron refraction angle decreases with shorter wavelengths, the application of refractive optics has been restricted to the cold neutron range. To expand the applicable wavelength range, we have developed a new refractive optics using an amorphous perfluoropolymer. This refractive optics is composed of several hundred thin sheets, each of which has a large number of grooves on the top surface. The refraction experiment was performed at the H-8 beam port of KENS, and it was confirmed that the thermal neutron beam can be refracted using this material prism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Small-angle neutron scattering technique using polarized neutrons is powerful for studying structures in the range between nm and μm of magnetic materials. In addition, they have been used for the incident beam of focusing-geometry SANS instruments using a magnetic neutron lens, where a high polarization degree of about 99.9% is necessary because the imperfectness of the neutron polarization increases the background level. We are going to install such a magnetic focusing system on the new time-of-flight SANS (TOF-SANS) instrument at the J-PARC so as to make qmin smaller than 10−3 Å−1 and improve the resolution of the conventional TOF-SANS at low q. As a polarizing device of the instrument, two V-shaped polarizing super mirrors arranged in crossed geometry to enhance the polarization degree has been considered. In this paper, we present the concept and the detailed design of this device and its performance estimated by Monte Carlo simulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The new time-of-flight smaller-angle neutron scattering (TOF-SANS) instrument HI-SANS is projected to be built in the Materials and Life Science Facility (MLF) of Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). The target of the HI-SANS is to study microstructures and hierarchical structures of nano-meter sized materials and their complexes. For the simultaneous collection of scattering data in the wide q range (∼3×10−3

Abstract: As a magnetic neutron lens based on a sextupole magnet to focus neutrons has chromatic aberration, it has been proposed that the chromatic aberration can be compensated in the pulsed neutron beam focusing by combining the focusing and defocusing functions of the multiplet magnetic lens system synchronously with time-of-flight (TOF) of neutrons. In this study, we performed numerical simulations on the multiplet magnetic lens system to investigate how a pulsed neutron beam can be controlled on the basis of the TOF method. It was then confirmed that the chromatic aberration can be compensated and the focal condition can be maintained over a certain λ-range by utilizing plural magnetic lenses in series and choosing the focusing and defocusing function of each magnetic lens synchronously with TOF of neutrons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents a study that evaluated the magnetic structure at the surface of palladium-iron fine particles. Analysis of the alternating current susceptibilities of the fine particles; Correlation between the size of the particles and the saturation magnetization; Determination of the transition temperature of the fine particle.

A time-of-flight Bragg-edge neutron transmission imaging was used to investigate the microstructure and strain distributions in a gear hardened by a newly developed two-step induction-heating method: precursor (Sample 1) and final product (Sample 2). The edge-position and edge-broadening were determined and mapped with high spatial resolution, which enabled us to confirm the two-dimensional distributions of the microstructure and residual strain. A deep hardened layer was made for Sample 1 in which martensite was formed on the entire teeth and the outer peripheral portion of the gear body. Sample 2 was subjected to double induction-hardening, where a tempered martensite was formed as the thermal refined microstructure between a fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface and a ferrite-pearlite microstructure at the core. The relationship between edge-broadening and the Vickers hardness described by a linear equation was employed to derive the elastic residual strain. The residual strain map for Sample 2 revealed that a steep compressive strain was introduced into the fine-grained martensite at the tooth surface by the super rapid induction-heating and quenching process. The reversal of tension was speculated to occur below 2 mm from the tooth tip, and the strain was almost zero in the core region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Double induction quenching improves gear fatigue life with surface compressive stress. • Lattice spacing distribution in a fatigued gear can be measured by Bragg edge imaging. • Neutron Bragg edge imaging and XRD suggest residual stress relaxation during fatigue. • Bragg edge imaging and XRD results are complementary due to different gauge volumes. • The obtained insights enhance fatigue models and promote gear production development. The compressive residual stress on the gear tooth's surface, a vital parameter to control mechanical properties, such as strength, has a beneficial effect on the component's fatigue life. A novel procedure, double induction quenching (DIQ), effective for improving the fatigue strength of gear products, has been used for producing gears with steep gradients of compressive residual stress generated in the tooth surface. We performed a Bragg edge imaging experiment at a pulsed neutron source to determine the spatial distribution of the {1 1 0} lattice spacing (d 110) and the broadening of the {1 1 0} Bragg edge (w 110) on the DIQ gear product after tooth-bending fatigue tests to which different loading cycles were applied. No significant difference occurred in the d 110 and the w 110 at Hofer's critical section (tensile side) of the teeth with different loading conditions within the accuracy of data analysis. However, we detected a decrease in the w 110 and changes in the residual lattice strain distribution in the axial direction (through the thickness) along the tooth root directions at the opposite side of Hofer's critical section for both teeth after 3 × 105 and 8 × 105 cycles, relieving the compressive residual stresses during the fatigue process. The residual stress close to the gear tooth surface determined by X-ray diffraction using sequential polishing showed a slight relaxation and redistribution from the tensile side in the hoop direction, complementary to the neutron Bragg edge imaging information in the axial direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic components are key parts of energy conversion systems, such as electric generators, motors, power electric devices, and magnetic refrigerators. Toroidal inductors with magnetic ring cores can be found inside such electric devices that are used daily. For such inductors, magnetization vector M is believed to circulate with/without distribution inside magnetic cores as electric power was used in the late nineteenth century. Nevertheless, notably, the distribution of M has never been directly verified. Herein, we measured a map of polarized neutron transmission spectra for a ferrite ring core assembled on a familiar inductor device. The results showed that M circulates inside the ring core with a ferrimagnetic spin order when power is supplied to the coil. In other words, this method enables the multiscale operando imaging of magnetic states, allowing us to evaluate the novel architectures of high-performance energy conversion systems using magnetic components with complex magnetic states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metallic glass (MG) exhibits viscous flow behavior in the supercooled liquid (SCL) state, which is of great advantage for its net-forming process. However, the viscous workability varies strongly with the alloy system and/or composition. In this paper, we demonstrate how MG with less viscous workability such as Gd-based MG can be processed in the SCL region. Based on this understanding, high aspect ratio analyzer gratings of 9 μm pitch and ∼30 μm heights have been fabricated through an imprinting method by allowing crystallization during a rapid heating isochronal imprinting process. The analyzer gratings made of Gd-based MG have brought a breakthrough for advancing neutron phase imaging based on grating interferometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have developed thin film Fresnel lenses made of a hydrogen-free amorphous polymer for neutron focusing purposes. A neutron beam test showed the strong focusing of a cold neutron beam, and an increase of the neutron intensity was observed to be more than 50 times. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lattice misfit in nickel‐based superalloys is one of the important microstructural parameters that control their mechanical properties, such as creep behaviour at high temperatures. Here, energy‐resolved neutron imaging experiments are performed at a spallation neutron source to determine the spatial variation of lattice misfit on a second‐generation nickel‐based single‐crystal superalloy specimen produced from a failed low‐cycle fatigue specimen. The wavelength spectrum of the neutrons scattered by the specimen displays a large number of peaks, each corresponding to a spot in traditional Laue diffraction experiments. An analysis of the position and width of those Laue peaks in the transmission spectra allows determination of the lattice parameters of the γ and γ′ phases that compose the specimen, as well as the strain misfit and the misorientation between them. An analytical model is developed to describe the full wavelength pattern of Laue peaks arising from a specimen composed of two single crystals, and this model is used to perform least‐squares refinements of the spectra measured at different positions of the specimen, with a spatial resolution of ∼500 × 500 µm. The local variations of the lattice parameter across the sample area were less than 4 mÅ for both phases, and the lattice misfit remains essentially constant at a value of 0.30 ± 0.03%, whilst the misorientation between the two phases is always smaller than 10′. By contrast, the relative misorientation between different parts of the specimen varies locally up to 1.5° on a scale of millimetres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We performed a cold neutron polarization experiment using a polarization device based on a quadrupole magnet. By passing through the aperture of the quadrupole magnet, positive and negative polarity neutrons are accelerated in opposite directions and spatially separated due to the magnetic field gradient. Then, we extracted the one-spin component and analyzed the polarization degree by using a sextupole magnet and position-sensitive detector. As a result, very high neutron polarization degree P=0.9993±0.0025 was obtained. Advantages of the quadrupole magnet as the neutron polarization device and its application to neutron scattering experiments are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Laser powder bed fusion is an additive manufacturing technique extensively used for the production of metallic components. Despite this process has reached a status at which parts are produced with mechanical properties comparable to those from conventional production, it is still prone to introduce detrimental tensile residual stresses towards the surfaces along the building direction, implying negative consequences on fatigue life and resistance to crack formations. Laser shock peening (LSP) is a promising method adopted to compensate tensile residual stresses and to introduce beneficial compressive residual stress on the treated surfaces. Using neutron Bragg edge imaging, we perform a parametric study of LSP applied to 316L steel samples produced by laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing. We include in the study the novel 3D-LSP technique, where samples are LSP treated also during the building process, at intermediate build layers. The LSP energy and spot overlap were set to either 1.0 or 1.5 J and 40 % or 80 % respectively. The results support the use of 3D-LSP treatment with the higher LSP laser energy and overlap applied, which showed a relative increase of surface compressive residual stress (CRS) and CRS depth by 54 % and 104 % respectively, compared to the conventional LSP treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A unique impact fracture behavior is found in a high-Mn austenitic steel (24Mn–4Cr-0.4C-0.3Cu) in this work. The steel exhibits concurrent twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect and the transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect. By analyzing the load-deflection curves recorded during Charpy impact testing, the resistance to crack initiation and propagation is quantified from the absorbed energy. The high-Mn steel demonstrates good resistance to crack initiation at 273 K and 77 K. However, as the temperature decreases from 273 K to 77 K, there is an accelerated transition from stable crack growth to unstable crack growth during impact, resulting in the deterioration of resistance to crack propagation. The plastic deformation of the impact-tested samples, especially in the region close to the crack-path profile was quantitatively analyzed using neutron Bragg-edge transmission (BET) imaging. The deformation zones, divided by using the width of the 200 Bragg edge, exhibit good agreement with the impact absorbed energy characteristics obtained from dynamic load-deflection curves. Moreover, the unstable growth transition point was roughly determined on the impact-tested sample. Then, the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique is employed to examine the deformation microstructure along the crack-path in the impact-tested samples. The results revealed the dual roles of TRIP effect in impact toughness of the high-Mn steel. On one hand, the TRIP effect plays a positive role in improving resistance to crack initiation and propagation. On the other hand, the excessive accumulation of brittle ε/α՛-martensite caused by the enhanced TRIP effect at 77 K leads to quasi-cleavage fracture, thereby playing a negative role. Finally, we discussed the prominent toughening mechanisms associated with the TWIP and TRIP effects, which greatly impact the impact fracture behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have performed small-angle polarized neutron scattering experiments of spherical Fe16N2 nano-particles, which are potential candidate materials for high density magnetic recording tape. The results were analyzed based on a core-shell model, and we evaluated the magnetic structure of the particles. The correlation between the magnetic structure and magnetic stability of the particles were discussed in terms of high density recordings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Energy-resolved neutron imaging is employed for in-situ measurements of dopant transport in a simple experiment performed before the crystal growth of the scintillator BaBrCl:5%Eu via a vertical gradient freeze technique. During a stabilization period preceding growth, we observed the diffusion of Eu from the solid phase into the melt over a period of approximately 4 h. Comparing the measured centerline concentration profile with a mathematical model for the system, we estimate the solid-state diffusivity of Eu in BaBrCl as D 1 = 1.9 × 10 − 10 m2/s and an upper limit for the liquid-phase diffusivity of Eu in the melt as D 2 * = 2.5 × 10 − 10 m2/s, at temperatures near the melting point. We compare this experiment, where diffusion is driven by a concentration discontinuity arising from segregation, to the classical diffusion couple technique. Suggestions are offered on how this segregation-driven couple might be improved as a tool for measuring diffusion coefficients, and we draw attention to the great promise of neutron imaging for in-situ measurements of the distribution of elements, with sufficiently high neutron attenuation coefficients, in difficult environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of melt convection on the phase separation structures in undercooled Cu Co alloys was investigated using the electromagnetic levitation technique, where the melt convection was controlled by applying a static magnetic field. The three-dimensional phase separation structures of the solidified Cu Co alloys were first observed using neutron computed tomography. A large number of small spherical Co-rich phases were dispersed in the Cu-rich phase matrix when the static magnetic field was relatively small. In contrast, several coalesced Co-rich phases, which were elongated along the direction of the static magnetic field, appeared in the higher strength of static magnetic field. Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solidification process of lead–bismuth eutectic (LBE) is one of the key phenomena to prevent flow channel blockage accident in an LBE-cooled accelerator-driven system. However, the solidification of liquid metal cannot be observed optically and it is difficult to detect noninvasively. In this study, the one-dimensional solidification process of the LBE was visualized by pulsed neutron transmission imaging. Neutrons have higher transmittivity to the LBE than X-ray and neutron transmission spectrum of the LBE sample can be obtained by pulsed neutron imaging technique. The solid and liquid phases of the LBE were identified during the solidification process by the presence or absence of Bragg edge in the measured neutron transmission spectrum, and the transient behavior of the solid–liquid interface could be visualized. In addition, the characteristic spatial distribution of the crystalline structure was found in Bragg-edge transmission image after the solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Neutron resonance absorption imaging, being used to visualize a spatial distribution of elements and/or temperature within a sample, is one of the important applications of an intense short-pulse neutron source. Two-dimensional time-analyzer neutron detectors are indispensable to perform neutron energy dependent imaging by means of the time-of-flight technique. Some state-of-the-art time-analyzer neutron detectors have been developed for thermal or cold neutrons. However the detection efficiencies of such neutron detectors are not sufficient for neutron resonance absorption imaging which utilizes neutrons in the energy region from eV to keV. The 2012 model lithium-6 time-analyzer neutron detector (LiTA12) system, based on a lithium glass scintillator and multi-anode photomultiplier tube, has the highest neutron efficiency among the detectors for pulsed neutron imaging together with the flexibility to tune the efficiency by changing the thickness of the lithium glass. The authors estimated performances of the detector at resonance neutron energies finding that 0.7 mm width line pairs made by 3 μm thick gold could be resolved at 4.9 eV and the maximum count rate of 8 Mcps was achieved at 1 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new mapping procedure for polycrystals using neutron Bragg-dip transmission is presented. This is expected to be useful as a new materials characterization tool which can simultaneously map the crystallographic direction of grains parallel to the incident beam. The method potentially has a higher spatial resolution than neutron diffraction imaging. As a demonstration, a Bragg-dip neutron transmission experiment was conducted at J-PARC on beamline MLF BL10 NOBORU. A large-grained Si-steel plate was used. Since this specimen included multiple grains along the neutron beam transmission path, it was a challenging task for existing methods to analyse the direction of the crystal lattice of each grain. A new data-analysis method for Bragg-dip transmission measurements was developed based on database matching. As a result, the number of grains and their crystallographic direction along the neutron transmission path have been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-resolved neutron imaging enables non-destructive analyses of bulk structure and elemental composition, which can be resolved with high spatial resolution at bright pulsed spallation neutron sources due to recent developments and improvements of neutron counting detectors. This technique, suitable for many applications, is demonstrated here with a specific study of ~5-10 mm thick natural gold samples. Through the analysis of neutron absorption resonances the spatial distribution of palladium (with average elemental concentration of ~0.4 atom% and ~5 atom%) is mapped within the gold samples. At the same time, the analysis of coherent neutron scattering in the thermal and cold energy regimes reveals which samples have a single-crystalline bulk structure through the entire sample volume. A spatially resolved analysis is possible because neutron transmission spectra are measured simultaneously on each detector pixel in the epithermal, thermal and cold energy ranges. With a pixel size of 55 μm and a detector-area of 512 by 512 pixels, a total of 262,144 neutron transmission spectra are measured concurrently. The results of our experiments indicate that high resolution energy-resolved neutron imaging is a very attractive analytical technique in cases where other conventional non-destructive methods are ineffective due to sample opacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive testing techniques based on neutron imaging and diffraction can provide information on the internal structure of relatively thick metal samples (up to several cm), which are opaque to other conventional non-destructive methods. Spatially resolved neutron transmission spectroscopy is an extension of traditional neutron radiography, where multiple images are acquired simultaneously, each corresponding to a narrow range of energy. The analysis of transmission spectra enables studies of bulk microstructures at the spatial resolution comparable to the detector pixel. In this study we demonstrate the possibility of imaging (with ~100 μm resolution) distribution of some microstructure properties, such as residual strain, texture, voids and impurities in Inconel 625 samples manufactured with an additive manufacturing method called direct metal laser melting (DMLM). Although this imaging technique can be implemented only in a few large-scale facilities, it can be a valuable tool for optimization of additive manufacturing techniques and materials and for correlating bulk microstructure properties to manufacturing process parameters. In addition, the experimental strain distribution can help validate finite element models which many industries use to predict the residual stress distributions in additive manufactured components. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Neutron Bragg-edge transmission imaging makes it possible to quantitatively visualize the two-dimensional distribution of microstructure within a sample. In order to examine its application to engineering products, time-of-flight Bragg-edge transmission imaging experiments using a pulsed neutron source were performed for plastically bent plates composed of a ferritic steel and a duplex stainless steel. The non-homogeneous microstructure distributions, such as texture, crystalline size, phase volume fraction and residual elastic strain, were evaluated for the cross sections of the bent plates. The obtained results were compared with those by neutron diffraction and electron back scatter diffraction, showing that the Bragg-edge transmission imaging is powerful for engineering use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nondestructive study of the internal structure and compositional gradient of dissimilar metal-alloy welds through energy-resolved neutron imaging is described in this paper. The ability of neutrons to penetrate thick metal objects (up to several cm) provides a unique possibility to examine samples which are opaque to other conventional techniques. The presence of Bragg edges in the measured neutron transmission spectra can be used to characterize the internal residual strain within the samples and some microstructural features, e.g. texture within the grains, while neutron resonance absorption provides the possibility to map the degree of uniformity in mixing of the participating alloys and intermetallic formation within the welds. In addition, voids and other defects can be revealed by the variation of neutron attenuation across the samples. This paper demonstrates the potential of neutron energy-resolved imaging to measure all these characteristics simultaneously in a single experiment with sub-mm spatial resolution. Two dissimilar alloy welds are used in this study: Al autogenously laser welded to steel, and Ti gas metal arc welded (GMAW) to stainless steel using Cu as a filler alloy. The cold metal transfer variant of the GMAW process was used in joining the Ti to the stainless steel in order to minimize the heat input. The distributions of the lattice parameter and texture variation in these welds as well as the presence of voids and defects in the melt region are mapped across the welds. The depth of the thermal front in the Al-steel weld is clearly resolved and could be used to optimize the welding process. A highly textured structure is revealed in the Ti to stainless steel joint where copper was used as a filler wire. The limited diffusion of Ti into the weld region is also verified by the resonance absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical surface treatment technologies such as laser peening and cavitation peening require detailed characterization, including residual stress analysis, to optimize their processing parameters. Recent developments at neutron facilities allow non-destructive 2-dimensional residual strain mapping through Bragg edge imaging, which provides specific advantages over more established methods. The present work highlights the application of Bragg edge neutron imaging for the study of mechanical surface treatments, through determination of lattice spacing distributions by energy-resolved radiography. Through three different examples, the unique capabilities of the method are demonstrated, particularly for providing near surface residual strain maps within samples with complex geometries with relatively high spatial resolution. By providing a comparison with X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction results, the present work emphasizes the potential of Bragg edge neutron imaging as a tool for surface treatment research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop a lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) cooled nuclear reactor, phase transition phenomena of LBE are very important. In the solidification of LBE, the crystalline structure is varied with the cooling process. The volumetric expansion of LBE must be clarified for the safety of an LBE cooled nuclear reactor. The time dependence of the volumetric expansion depends on the crystalline microstructure. In this study, the crystalline microstructure of the LBE samples solidified with the different cooling processes was investigated by the neutron Bragg edge imaging technique. Spatially integrated and local microstructure characteristics of LBE samples were analyzed. Characteristics of preferred orientation of LBE microstructure were clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To accelerate the spread use of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), it is essential to increase power density and durability, while reduce costs. We have succeeded in developing an innovative gas diffusion layer (GDL) with gas flow channels (GDLFC+) fabricated on a flat separator that enabled both cost reduction and high performance. In this study, neutron radiography was used to observe the distribution of liquid water during power generation (1–3 A cm−2) of a cell with a size (1.0 cm (W) x 9.7 cm (L)) large enough to evaluate the actual cell. With using our GDLs and interdigitated (comb-shaped) gas flow channels, the distributions of liquid water were quantitatively imaged, influenced by the current density, the relative humidity, the oxygen utilization, and the water repellency of the GDL. The increase in linear velocity of the oxidant gases effectively suppressed the retention of liquid water at the cathode. Even at high oxygen utilization (67%) under continuous power generation for 30 min, the water-repellent GDL effectively made possible the back-diffusion of water over the entire electrode area, contributing not only to a large reduction in diffusion overvoltage but also in Ohmic overvoltage, resulting in high current density and high stability of a PEFC. [Display omitted] • The GDL with interdigitated gas flow channels was applied at the cathode of PEFC. • Neutron radiography clarified the distribution of liquid water at 1–3 A cm−2. • Effective water back-diffusion over the MEA resulted in reduction of overvoltages. • In the anode channel, liquid water spread more with the water-repellent GDL. • Heat brought by overvoltages mitigated the dew condensation at the anode and cathode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium tracer diffusion coefficients have been measured in Li 1.3 Al 0.3 Ti 1.7 (PO 4) 3 (LATP) and LATP – LaPO 4 composite solid electrolytes in the temperature range between 300 °C and 500 °C by means of neutron radiography technique that utilizes the difference in neutron attenuation of 6Li and 7Li isotopes. The diffusion coefficient of LATP – LaPO 4 composite is higher than that of pristine LATP, although the difference is much smaller than that estimated from the room temperature conductivity. This suggests that the bulk diffusion becomes the predominant diffusion mechanism at 300 °C to 500 °C instead of the diffusion along the space charge layer formed around the LaPO 4 dispersants. • Tracer diffusion experiments were performed for LATP and composite electrolytes. • Higher diffusion coefficient is obtained for composite rather than pristine LATP. • Bulk diffusion is predominant rather than space charge layer diffusion above 300 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have constructed a focusing-geometry small-angle neutron scattering (FSANS) instrument, SANS-J-II, with two kinds of neutron focusing device: a series of compound refractive lenses made of MgF2 and a magnetic neutron lens based on an extended Halbach-type sextupole magnet. In this study, we investigated the performance of the FSANS instrument with the magnetic neutron lens. The intensity distribution of a direct neutron beam focused on the detector plane by the magnetic neutron lens had a ratio of the peak height to the background level of for a polarized neutron beam with a polarization degree of . It is found that a minimum value of the measurable range [where is the modulus of the scattering vector and is defined as , where is the scattering angle and is the neutron wavelength], , of Å−1 can be achieved by the FSANS instrument with the magnetic neutron lens using neutrons with Å and for the full width at half maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Modulating permanent magnet sextupole lens (PMSx) for focusing pulsed cold neutrons is under development. The synchronized modulation of its field gradient suppresses the chromatic aberration which arises from the Time Of Flight method. The strength of the magnetic field, the torque, and the rise of temperature during its operation are studied on a fabricated prototype. Experiments on focusing pulsed very cold neutrons (VCN) at ILL (Institute of Laue Langevin, France) were carried out and VCN with around λ=40Å were focused by the PMSx at a focal length of about 0.5m. The experimental results are presented in conjunction with the principle of the neutron focusing and the modulating method of the focal strength of permanent magnet lens with the double ring structure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new beamline for a fundamental physics experiment is under construction at BL05 port in the Materials and Life Science Facility (MLF) at Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC); this beamline is designed using novel techniques of neutron optics and it is termed “Neutron Optics and Physics.” The beam from the moderator is deflected by multi-channel supermirrors and split into three branches for individual experiments. In this study, we have optimized the design of the beam optics and shields using the Monte Carlo simulation package PHITS. The neutron fluxes of beams are expected to be 9.2×105 /cm2/μstr/s/MW, 1.2×109 /cm2/s/MW, and 4.0×108 /cm2/s/MW, with polarization of 99.8%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have developed a magnetic neutron lens (MNL) based on an extended Halbach-type permanent sextupole magnet. The effective aperture size is 30mm in diameter and the length is 2400mm. The sextupole magnetic field distribution | B |=(G/2) r 2 with the gradient coefficient G=10,660±530T/m2 are generated inside the magnet, where r is the distance from the magnet center axis. The neutron-focusing property is investigated by using pulsed polarized neutrons. The obtained results are discussed in comparison with numerical simulation results. The application to the focusing-geometry small-angle neutron scattering experiments is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We obtained highly polarized very cold neutrons through a quadrupole magnet with a large aperture. When neutrons go through a quadrupole magnet, parallel-spin neutrons are attracted to the magnet axis and anti-parallel-spin neutrons are repelled off the axis. Therefore, the neutrons through a sufficiently long quadrupole magnet have completely parallel-spin. At the downstream of the quadrupole magnet, we placed another quadrupole magnet to divide neutrons into two regions depending on their spin directions. We obtained the neutron polarization from the integrated count of the two regions and found it was 99.88±0.09 (stat.)±0.05 (syst.)%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have designed and demonstrated a prototype on-beam spin-exchange optical pumping (SEOP) 3He neutron spin filter (NSF). It is designed as the incident neutron polarizer for spallation neutron sources, where the installation space is limited due to thick radiation shielding. The size of the NSF is roughly 50cm×50cm×25cm including the diode-laser optics with a frequency narrowing external cavity, and a cylindrical 3He cell as large as a diameter of 5cm and a length of 10cm can fit. A neutron beam test was performed at the NOP beamline of JRR-3 to see the performance of the NSF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A neutron scintillating detector and its data taking system have been developed for neutron scattering measurement. A 64-channel flatpanel photomultiplier is used for the Anger-camera method. The detection efficiency of γ-ray background is very low in the use of the ZnS/6LiF scintillator. The spatial resolution is less than 1mm. The effective area of this detector is around 25cm2, and it is easy to expand it to a larger area with small dead space using the multi-photomultiplier tubes system. The fast DAQ system has 10-bit 100MHz flash ADCs, FPGA chips and USB2.0 device. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Precise measurement of neutron β decay allows determining the coupling constant of weak interaction independent of any nuclear structure. We have developed measurement system of neutron β decay at a thermal neutron beamline in JRR-3, JAEA. By using coincidence technique of two kinds of detectors, we have succeeded in detecting the signal of neutron β decay with S/N of 0.63 and count rate of 0.40cps. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: For the future fundamental physics experiments by using cold neutrons, we are developing a device which can measure the neutron polarization degree by accuracy significantly below 10−3. A quadrupole magnet is one of the promising candidate to measure the neutron polarization degree by such extremely high precision. We have performed a polarization experiment by using the quadrupole magnets at the Very Cold Neutron (VCN) port of the PF-2 in the Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL). As a result, we obtained the polarization degree P with very high accuracy P=0.9994±0.0001(stat.)±0.0003(syst.), which meet our requirement significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]