Search

In this study, we report the first case of design and implementation of a polarized neutron imaging option on the Imaging and Materials Science & Engineering Station (IMAT). This is a significant addition to the capabilities of the station that allows the characterization of advanced magnetic materials for different engineering applications. Combining its time-of-flight feature with a polarized beam yields data that facilitate both quantitative and qualitative analysis of magnetic materials. Using the simple field of an aluminium solenoid, we perform a characterization of the new setup. In addition, we present polarized measurements of additively manufactured (AM) MnAl samples where the magnetic anisotropy due to the fabrication process has been investigated as a first scientific application of the setup. The results indicate that the anisotropy of the material can be engineered through variation of the AM fabrication parameters.

In this study, we report the first case of design and implementation of a polarized neutron imaging option on the Imaging and Materials Science & Engineering Station (IMAT). This is a significant addition to the capabilities of the station that allows the characterization of advanced magnetic materials for different engineering applications. Combining its time-of-flight feature with a polarized beam yields data that facilitate both quantitative and qualitative analysis of magnetic materials. Using the simple field of an aluminium solenoid, we perform a characterization of the new setup. In addition, we present polarized measurements of additively manufactured (AM) MnAl samples where the magnetic anisotropy due to the fabrication process has been investigated as a first scientific application of the setup. The results indicate that the anisotropy of the material can be engineered through variation of the AM fabrication parameters.

Sardinian metallurgy produced samples of high artistic and historical value. In particular, ship models are rare and unmatched examples of the mastery reached by Sardinian metallurgists and their production process deserves an in-depth analysis of all the phases involved in the making. In this work, we examined a Sardinian boat model to obtain information about its composition, microstructure and manufacturing technique. The object is a small bronze ship model that was found near the Nuraghe Colovros, located in north-east Sardinia (Italy). It was analysed by means of neutron imaging and neutron diffraction experiments at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source laboratory (Harwell, UK). Neutron techniques are relatively new in the field of archaeometry, but they are a very effective tool for the study of archaeological objects: they permit to survey complete artefacts, determine compositions and structures, assess the conservation status and address questions of effective use and casting techniques. This type of data can add new and different insights to existing archaeological information, especially where sampling is not permitted. The outcome of the study reveals a peculiar approach to the manufacturing of the boat model.

Sardinian metallurgy produced samples of high artistic and historical value. In particular, ship models are rare and unmatched examples of the mastery reached by Sardinian metallurgists and their production process deserves an in-depth analysis of all the phases involved in the making. In this work, we examined a Sardinian boat model to obtain information about its composition, microstructure and manufacturing technique. The object is a small bronze ship model that was found near the Nuraghe Colovros, located in north-east Sardinia (Italy). It was analysed by means of neutron imaging and neutron diffraction experiments at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source laboratory (Harwell, UK). Neutron techniques are relatively new in the field of archaeometry, but they are a very effective tool for the study of archaeological objects: they permit to survey complete artefacts, determine compositions and structures, assess the conservation status and address questions of effective use and casting techniques. This type of data can add new and different insights to existing archaeological information, especially where sampling is not permitted. The outcome of the study reveals a peculiar approach to the manufacturing of the boat model.

Neutron Tomography (NT) is an established technique to non-destructively investigate the inner structure of a wide range of objects. The major drawback of NT is the long acquisition time required to perform a tomographic scan compared to an X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) scan, due to the limited particle flux of the existing neutron sources. Therefore, in the NT field there is great interest in the reduction of scan time, dictated by the high neutrons production cost, aimed at optimizing the beamtime use at neutron imaging beamlines. A way for decreasing the total scan time is to reduce the number of projections. Generally, iterative reconstruction methods have advantages over analytical algorithms, such as the widely used Filtered Back-Projection (FBP), when data are noisy and limited. This research is focused on the comparative analysis of different reconstruction techniques, aimed at finding the data processing procedure suitable for NT, that reduces the scan time without reduction of the reconstructed image quality. For this purpose, a phantom sample was analysed by means of a white beam NT performed at the IMAT beamline, ISIS Neutron Source, U.K . Experimental data were used to test the performances of the FBP algorithm and different iterative reconstruction methods as a function of the number of projections and for different setups of the imaging system. The reconstructed images were quantitatively compared in terms of image quality indexes and the benefits of iterative methods for the limited data problem are discussed.

A multidisciplinary non-destructive study has been carried out on historical pipe organ fragments, trying to infer whether the spatial occurrence of different crystallographic phases (that is alpha‑tin, beta‑tin, cassiterite or romarchite) reflects the visible alterations patterns. We could indeed derive the presence of the beta‑tin phase. Several tin oxide phases have been detected too, associated with the visible occurrence of “grey regions” and hole borders (mapped by Raman spectroscopy), and hydrate phases (mapped by neutron imaging). We aim to demonstrate that neutron and Raman techniques can give relevant indications in archaeometallurgy studies of cultural heritage artifacts, where only non-destructive experiments can be performed. The combination of the two probes could be considered a protocol to be applied in the characterization of tin based specimens.

A multidisciplinary non-destructive study has been carried out on historical pipe organ fragments, trying to infer whether the spatial occurrence of different crystallographic phases (that is alpha‐tin, beta‐tin, cassiterite or romarchite) reflects the visible alterations patterns. We could indeed derive the presence of the beta‐tin phase. Several tin oxide phases have been detected too, associated with the visible occurrence of “grey regions” and hole borders (mapped by Raman spectroscopy), and hydrate phases (mapped by neutron imaging). We aim to demonstrate that neutron and Raman techniques can give relevant indications in archaeometallurgy studies of cultural heritage artifacts, where only non-destructive experiments can be performed. The combination of the two probes could be considered a protocol to be applied in the characterization of tin based specimens.

A new neutron imaging and diffraction facility, called IMAT, is currently being commissioned at the ISIS pulsed neutron spallation source. IMAT will take advantage of neutron time-of-flight measurement techniques for flexible neutron energy selection and effective energy discrimination. The instrument will be completed and commissioned within the next few months, after neutrons have been recently delivered to the sample area. From 2016 IMAT will enable white-beam neutron radiography and tomography as well as energy-dependent neutron imaging. The facility will offer a spatial resolution down to 50 microns for a field of view of up to 400 cm2. IMAT will be operated as a user facility for material science applications and will be open for developments of time-of-flight imaging methods.

The cold neutron imaging and diffraction instrument IMAT at the second target station of the pulsed neutron source ISIS is currently being commissioned and prepared for user operation. IMAT will enable white-beam neutron radiography and tomography. One of the benefits of operating on a pulsed source is to determine the neutron energy via a time of flight measurement, thus enabling energy-selective and energy-dispersive neutron imaging, for maximizing image contrasts between given materials and for mapping structure and microstructure properties. We survey the hardware and software components for data collection and image analysis on IMAT, and provide a step-by-step procedure for operating the instrument for energy-dispersive imaging using a two-phase metal test object as an example

The cold neutron imaging and diffraction instrument IMAT at the second target station of the pulsed neutron source ISIS is currently being commissioned and prepared for user operation. IMAT will enable white-beam neutron radiography and tomography. One of the benefits of operating on a pulsed source is to determine the neutron energy via a time of flight measurement, thus enabling energy-selective and energy-dispersive neutron imaging, for maximizing image contrasts between given materials and for mapping structure and microstructure properties. We survey the hardware and software components for data collection and image analysis on IMAT, and provide a step-by-step procedure for operating the instrument for energy-dispersive imaging using a two-phase metal test object as an example

The MCP-based neutron counting detector is a novel device that allows high spatial resolution and time-resolved neutron radiography and tomography with epithermal, thermal and cold neutrons. Time resolution is possible by the high readout speeds of ∼ 1200 frames/sec, allowing high resolution event counting with relatively high rates without spatial resolution degradation due to event overlaps. The electronic readout is based on a Timepix sensor, a CMOS pixel readout chip developed at CERN. Currently, a geometry of a quad Timepix detector is used with an active format of 28 × 28 mm2limited by the size of the Timepix quad (2 × 2 chips) readout. Measurements of a set of high-precision micrometers test samples have been performed at the Imaging and Materials Science & Engineering (IMAT) beamline operating at the ISIS spallation neutron source (U.K.). The aim of these experiments was the full characterization of the chip misalignment and of the gaps between each pad in the quad Timepix sensor. Such misalignment causes distortions of the recorded shape of the sample analyzed. We present in this work a post-processing image procedure that considers and corrects these effects. Results of the correction will be discussed and the efficacy of this method evaluated.

Artifacts from the Egyptian grave goods of Kha and Merit preserved at the Museo Egizio in Turin were studied through a combination of non-destructive and non-invasive neutron and gamma techniques (namely neutron imaging, neutron diffraction and prompt gamma activation analysis). The results provide unprecedented morphological reconstructions of the inner parts of the two alabaster and metallic vases and their isotopic and phase composition, thereby extending our knowledge of the hitherto unknown content of the vases and their functions.

IMAT is a new cold-neutron imaging facility at the neutron spallation source ISIS at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, U.K.. The ISIS pulsed source enables energy-selective and energy-resolved neutron imaging via time-of-flight (TOF) techniques, which are available in addition to the white-beam neutron radiography and tomography options. A spatial resolution of about 50 Î1⁄4m for white-beam neutron radiography was achieved early in the IMAT commissioning phase. In this work we have made the first steps towards achieving higher spatial resolution. A white-beam radiography with 18 Î1⁄4m spatial resolution was achieved in this experiment. This result was possible by using the event counting neutron pixel detector based on micro-channel plates (MCP) coupled with a Timepix readout chip with 55 Î1⁄4m sized pixels, and by employing an event centroiding technique. The prospects for energy-selective neutron radiography for this centroiding mode are discussed.

This work presents the first neutron characterization of artefacts from the grave-goods of Kha and Merit, a unique cultural treasure of mankind and preserved at the Museo Egizio in Turin. This magnificent collection, discovered in the early years of the last century, includes an impressive amount of artefacts such as coffins, textiles, metallic and ceramic pottery, and alabaster containers. The present study investigates two sealed potteries, using enhanced Neutron Tomography, Radiography, and Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis techniques. The neutron probe provides access to the morphological reconstructions of the inner parts of the vases and to map, with unprecedented details, the elemental composition of the surfaces and bulk areas of the potteries. The present work extends the knowledge to hitherto unknown contents of the sealed vases unlocking their secrets.

© Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.The recent development of bright pulsed neutron sources and high resolution neutron counting detectors enables simultaneous acquisition of a neutron transmission spectrum for each pixel of the image. These spectra can be used to reconstruct microstructure parameters within welds, such as strain, texture and phase composition through Bragg edge analysis, and in some cases elemental composition through resonance absorption analysis. In this paper we demonstrate the potential of energy-resolved neutron imaging to study the microstructures of two steel welds, where the spatial distribution of residual strain within the welds, as well as some information on the texture, are obtained with sub-mm spatial resolution. A friction stir weld of two steel plates and a conventional weld of two steel pipes were studied at pulsed neutron facilities, where a Δλ/λ resolution as low as 0.2% can be attained over a wide range of neutron wavelengths ranging from 0.5 Å to 8 Å.

A position sensitive detector for epithermal neutrons is being developed as a tool for neutron resonance tomography at pulsed neutron sources. Neutron-scattering effects in the detector elements were investigated with GEANT4 simulations. The simulations show that the effect of neutron scattering is generally low, and can be further suppressed by proper choice of construction materials. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.

We demonstrate for the first time the viability of a three-dimensional (3D) elemental imaging technique based on Neutron Resonance Transmission Imaging (NRTI), which is a neutron technique based on the presence of a resonance structure in the neutron-induced reaction cross sections. These resonances allow the identification of elements and isotopes within an object in a non-destructive manner. A dedicated set-up on the INES (Italian Neutron Experimental Station) beamline of the ISIS spallation neutron source was employed for the experiments. An early mediaeval disc fibula from the Hungarian National Museum in Budapest was used for our demonstration. The methodology and analysis procedures are described and the results obtained from the reconstruction of the 3D NRTI elemental image of the ancient object are compared with the results obtained from other neutron-based 3D imaging techniques.

Contains fulltext : 128433.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)

We report a detailed study of the magnetic properties of the buckled kagome compound Cu3Y(SeO3)2O2Cl using heat capacity, magnetization, powder neutron diffraction, electron spin resonance, and first-principles calculations. The crystal structure is confirmed to be isotypic with the mineral francisite, with orthorhombic space group symmetry Pmmn throughout the temperature range 5-300 K. Magnetization, heat capacity, and neutron diffraction confirm long range magnetic order below TN=35 K. The electron spin resonance spectra reveal the presence of two modes corresponding to two different crystallographic Cu positions. The principal g values of the g tensor of Cu1 sites were found to be g1=2.18(4),g2=2.10(6), and g3=2.05(9), while the effective g factor of Cu2 sites is almost isotropic and is on average g=2.09(5). At low temperatures, Cu3Y(SeO3)2O2Cl undergoes a metamagnetic transition, with a critical field BC=2.6 T at 2 K, due to the suppression of the interplane exchange interactions and saturates in modest magnetic field BS≤8 T. The first-principles calculations allow an estimation of both intraplane and interplane exchange interactions. The weakness of the interplane exchange interaction results in low values of the critical fields for the metamagnetic transition, while the competition between intraplane exchange interactions of different signs results in a similarly low value of the saturation field. © 2014 American Physical Society.

Contains fulltext : 128433.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 128433.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)

Contains fulltext : 133252.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)

The prototype of a wavelength-sensitive neutron filter has been realized and tested successfully for the first time. The filter exploits the neutron wavelength dependence of the transparency of He-3 gas. The analysis of test results gives high wavelength resolution Delta lambda/lambda similar or equal to 0.5% over the broad wavelength range 0.2-5.2 angstrom. We propose an idea to expand the filter range in the short wavelength direction by use of a cryogenic environment, and also consider the use of media using other than He-3 gas. The proposed filter might be used in advanced reflectometers and SANS2D neutron scattering instruments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The prototype of a wavelength-sensitive neutron filter has been realized and tested successfully for the first time. The filter exploits the neutron wavelength dependence of the transparency of He-3 gas. The analysis of test results gives high wavelength resolution Delta lambda/lambda similar or equal to 0.5% over the broad wavelength range 0.2-5.2 angstrom. We propose an idea to expand the filter range in the short wavelength direction by use of a cryogenic environment, and also consider the use of media using other than He-3 gas. The proposed filter might be used in advanced reflectometers and SANS2D neutron scattering instruments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The resonance structure in neutron induced reaction cross sections can be used to determine the elemental compositions of materials or objects. The occurrence of resonances is the basis of neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) and neutron resonance transmission analysis (NRTA). NRCA and NRTA are fully non-destructive methods to determine the bulk elemental composition without the need of any sample preparation and resulting in a negligible residual activity. They have been applied to determine the elemental composition of archaeological objects and to characterize reference materials used for cross section measurements. For imaging applications a position sensitive neutron detector has been developed within the ANCIENT CHARM project. The detector is based on a 10 × 10 array of 6Li-glass scintillators mounted on a pitch of 2.5 mm, resulting in a 25 × 25 mm2 active area. The detector has been tested at the time-of-flight facility GELINA and used at the ISIS spallation source to study cultural heritage objects.

Archaeological finds from the pre-Roman Ligurian settlement of Guardamonte-Monte Vallassa (Pavia, Italy) were made available for a series of material analysis measurements based on X-ray and neutron radiation. With the objects not yet cleaned and restored, the XRF analysis obtained from a standard low-power spectrometer was limited to the surface of the objects, covered by corrosion and concretion layers. Time of flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND), however, is widely recognised as a promising technique for non-destructive bulk analysis of cultural heritage objects allowing to access depths of a few centimetres in metallic objects. Moreover, the INES beamline at the ISIS neutron source offered the unique possibility of performing TOF-ND together with neutron resonance transmission (NRT) measurements. We present XRF and neutron-based results on selected objects, showing how the use of integrated techniques can get information on the physical nature of both the corrosion layers and bulk properties of the objects, and in some cases giving indications on the method of production, for instance, casting or hammering. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

Neutron resonances are the signature signals of a non-destructive elemental and isotopic analysis technique in archaeological sciences. We report on Neutron Resonance Transmission Analysis and its capabilities as a bulk elemental imaging technique to test the homogeneity of samples and to localize elements of interest in archaeological samples and museum objects. A high neutron flux is required for imaging in order to achieve reasonable spatial resolution and to keep measurement times within realistic limits. A modular system for neutron resonance transmission analysis has been designed and installed at the INES beamline of the ISIS spallation neutron source as a part of the ANCIENT CHARM project. The main component is a neutron position sensitive transmission detector which is based on a 10 × 10 array of 6Li-glass crystals mounted on a pitch of 2.5 mm, resulting in a 25 × 25 mm 2 active area. Transmission spectra are obtained by a measurement of the flight time of epithermal neutrons passing through an object. The transmission dips observed in a time-of-flight spectrum can be used to identify and quantify specific nuclides. In this paper the technique is described together with the data reduction and analysis procedures. In addition, preliminary results obtained from measurements on cultural heritage samples are discussed. © 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

type:text, We have carried out neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation (mu SR), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) investigations on a polycrystalline sample of CeOs2Al10 to investigate the nature of the phase transition observed near 29 K in the resistivity and heat capacity. Our mu SR data clearly reveal coherent frequency oscillations below 28 K, indicating the presence of an internal field at the muon site, which confirms the long-range magnetic ordering of the Ce moment below 28 K. Upon cooling the sample below 15 K, unusual behavior of the temperature-dependent mu SR frequencies may indicate either a change in the muon site, consistent with the observation of superstructure reflections in electron diffraction, or a change in the ordered magnetic structure. Neutron diffraction data do not reveal any clear sign of either magnetic Bragg peaks or superlattice reflections. Furthermore, INS measurements clearly reveal the presence of a sharp inelastic excitation near 11 meV between 5 and 26 K, due to opening of a gap in the spin-excitation spectrum, which transforms into a broad response at and above 30 K. The magnitude of the spin gap (11 meV) as derived from the INS peak position agrees very well with the gap value as estimated from the bulk properties.

We have carried out neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation (mu SR), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) investigations on a polycrystalline sample of CeOs2Al10 to investigate the nature of the phase transition observed near 29 K in the resistivity and heat capacity. Our mu SR data clearly reveal coherent frequency oscillations below 28 K, indicating the presence of an internal field at the muon site, which confirms the long-range magnetic ordering of the Ce moment below 28 K. Upon cooling the sample below 15 K, unusual behavior of the temperature-dependent mu SR frequencies may indicate either a change in the muon site, consistent with the observation of superstructure reflections in electron diffraction, or a change in the ordered magnetic structure. Neutron diffraction data do not reveal any clear sign of either magnetic Bragg peaks or superlattice reflections. Furthermore, INS measurements clearly reveal the presence of a sharp inelastic excitation near 11 meV between 5 and 26 K, due to opening of a gap in the spin-excitation spectrum, which transforms into a broad response at and above 30 K. The magnitude of the spin gap (11 meV) as derived from the INS peak position agrees very well with the gap value as estimated from the bulk properties.

We have carried out neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation (mu SR), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) investigations on a polycrystalline sample of CeOs2Al10 to investigate the nature of the phase transition observed near 29 K in the resistivity and heat capacity. Our mu SR data clearly reveal coherent frequency oscillations below 28 K, indicating the presence of an internal field at the muon site, which confirms the long-range magnetic ordering of the Ce moment below 28 K. Upon cooling the sample below 15 K, unusual behavior of the temperature-dependent mu SR frequencies may indicate either a change in the muon site, consistent with the observation of superstructure reflections in electron diffraction, or a change in the ordered magnetic structure. Neutron diffraction data do not reveal any clear sign of either magnetic Bragg peaks or superlattice reflections. Furthermore, INS measurements clearly reveal the presence of a sharp inelastic excitation near 11 meV between 5 and 26 K, due to opening of a gap in the spin-excitation spectrum, which transforms into a broad response at and above 30 K. The magnitude of the spin gap (11 meV) as derived from the INS peak position agrees very well with the gap value as estimated from the bulk properties.

Neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) is used in the Ancient Charm project to determine element concentrations in cultural heritage objects. NRCA employs gamma-ray detectors to determine time-of-flight spectra that reveal the resonance structure in neutron induced reaction cross sections. One of the objectives is to produce a high-detection efficient NRCA system capable of mapping element distributions. The detection system is described together with the results of neutron beam tests at the time-of-flight facility GELINA and at the pulsed neutron spallation source ISIS (UK). © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Two neutron based techniques, neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) and time-of-flight neutron-diffraction (TOF-ND) have been used to determine the elemental composition and structure of a precious and very well preserved all-metal sword from the Bronze Age. This Buggenum sword was on loan from the National Museum of Antiquities (NMA) in Leiden (NL). NRCA and TOF-ND experiments have been carried out at a number of more or less identical positions of the sword. The tin-bronze ratio and the relative amounts of some minor elements (Sb, As, Ag, In) have been determined. The results of neutron diffraction measurements showed considerable tin-segregation, and clear indications of hardening on the edges of the blade. In addition, radiographs using Bremsstrahlung revealed the construction of the hilt–blade connection. The work was carried out at the EC Joint Research Centre IRMM in Geel (B) and at the ISIS facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK)., Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors, Applied Sciences

Two neutron based techniques, neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) and time-of-flight neutron-diffraction (TOF-ND) have been used to determine the elemental composition and structure of a precious and very well preserved all-metal sword from the Bronze Age. This Buggenum sword was on loan from the National Museum of Antiquities (NMA) in Leiden (NL). NRCA and TOF-ND experiments have been carried out at a number of more or less identical positions of the sword. The tin-bronze ratio and the relative amounts of some minor elements (Sb, As, Ag, In) have been determined. The results of neutron diffraction measurements showed considerable tin-segregation, and clear indications of hardening on the edges of the blade. In addition, radiographs using Bremsstrahlung revealed the construction of the hilt–blade connection. The work was carried out at the EC Joint Research Centre IRMM in Geel (B) and at the ISIS facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK)., Radiation, Radionuclides and Reactors, Applied Sciences

A new neutron resonant transmission (NRT) detector for epithermal neutron imaging has been designed and built for the ANCIENT CHARM project, which is developing a set of complementary neutron imaging methods for analysis of cultural heritage objects. One of the techniques being exploited is NRT with the aim of performing bulk elemental analysis. The 16-pixel prototype NRT detector consists of independent crystals of 2 × 2 mm pixel size, which allow for 2D position-sensitive transmission measurements with epithermal neutrons. First results obtained at the ISIS pulsed spallation neutron source are presented. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Applied Sciences

Applied Sciences

The potential of Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) for non-destructive quantitative investigation of archaeological objects at a pulsed neutron spallation source was studied. Experiments were performed on the ROTAX time-of-flight diffractometer of the ISIS neutron source on a chalcolithic copper axe, a limestone sample from the ancient Quarry of Masarah (Egypt), a Roman bronze fibula and two fragments of glass from the Roman Villa Adriana. For reference and comparison, measurements were also performed at the PGAA station of the Budapest research reactor. It is found that the performance of a PGAA analysis at a pulsed source, with a make-shift set-up on an instrument designed for diffraction studies, cannot match the achievable results at a dedicated PGAA facility at a reactor source. However, the possibility of performing different investigations, e.g., neutron diffraction for structure analysis and PGAA for elemental analysis, at a single facility on one and the same object remains attractive and offers useful applications in the field of cultural heritage.

Neutron radiation is a highly penetrating probe, routinely used for non-destructive testing of engineering components and for analysis of the structure and dynamics of novel advanced materials. The same analytical techniques can be employed for characterizing objects of art, museum pieces and archaeological findings. In particular, neutron radiography, neutron diffraction and neutron activation analysis provide valuable and complementary information to address questions of provenance, authenticity, fabrication techniques and conservation. This paper surveys some basic concepts and recent applications of neutrons in cultural heritage research at the ISIS neutron spallation source.

In the early eighteenth century Johann Friedrich Böttger produced a remarkable type of red stoneware which is extraordinary hard and suitable for surface polishing. Although of considerable value for museums and collectors, surprisingly little is known of the elemental and mineral compositions of this type of stoneware. We have analysed Böttger objects and other red stoneware pieces from the Porcelain Collection of the State art Collections Dresden by non-destructive neutron-diffraction. The neutron analyses of about 20 intact jugs, vases and plates carried out at the spallation source ISIS provides a quantitative overview of the main mineral phase compositions. The data confirm the fine raw material selection by Böttger for the production of his stoneware. The mineral phase composition of Böttger objects, however, is not unique and similar to the also studied Yixing red stoneware.

Roman marble fragments from the Villa Adriana at Tivoli (Rome) have been characterised by neutron diffraction. This study aimed at distinguishing between different marble types on the basis of the mineral phase compositions and the crystallographic textures. It is demonstrated that on a multi-detector time-of-flight neutron diffractometer a quantitative bulk texture analysis can be performed on a stationary marble sample in a matter of minutes. This potentially allows investigating large sample series or bulky, intact marble objects in a completely non-destructive manner. The texture information, along with other structure details, can be used as characterising feature to address questions of attribution and restoration of archaeological marble objects.

This paper reports results of phase transformation experiments in the α/β alloy Ti-6Al-4V from α→β→α on heating below and near the β-transus using in situ neutron diffraction. The development and evolution of crystallographic texture during the α→β→α phase transformation was determined. Annealing at a sub-transus temperature 1562K (850°C) shows similar α-phase and β-phase pole figures from room temperature up to 1562K (850°C), with a slight increase in the intensity of the β-phase pole figures, showing that the β-phase texture strengthens during heating. During cooling, the β→α transformation occurs very quickly and the initial alpha-texture obtained at room temperature is significantly weakened by the heat-treatment. Strengthening of the β-phase texture is observed on heating the sample from [1163K to 1253K (890°C to 980°C), respectively] and a Burgers relationship ((0002) α/(110) β and {11-20} α/{111} β) is seen with the α-phase texture at room temperature; but no evidence of variant selection was observed during α→β transformation. During the β→α phase transformation on cooling, the Burgers relationship holds. This indicates a texture memory effect due to the growth of the primary alpha phase present at high temperature.

A combined neutron imaging and neutron diffraction facility, IMAT, is currently being built at the pulsed neutron spallation source ISIS in the U.K. A supermirror neutron guide is required to combine imaging and diffraction modes at the sample position in order to obtain suitable time of flight resolutions for energy selective imaging and diffraction experiments. IMAT will make use of a straight neutron guide and we consider here the optimization of the supermirror guide dimensions and characterisation of the resulting beam characteristics, including the homogeneity of the flux distribution in space and energy and the average and peak neutron fluxes. These investigations take into account some main design criteria: to maximise the neutron flux, to minimise geometrical artefacts in the open beam image at the sample position and to obtain a good energy resolution whilst retaining a large neutron bandwidth. All of these are desirable beam characteristics for the proposed imaging and diffraction analysis modes of IMAT.

We have carried out neutron diffraction, muon spin relaxation (mu SR), and inelastic neutron scattering (INS) investigations on a polycrystalline sample of CeOs2Al10 to investigate the nature of the phase transition observed near 29 K in the resistivity and heat capacity. Our mu SR data clearly reveal coherent frequency oscillations below 28 K, indicating the presence of an internal field at the muon site, which confirms the long-range magnetic ordering of the Ce moment below 28 K. Upon cooling the sample below 15 K, unusual behavior of the temperature-dependent mu SR frequencies may indicate either a change in the muon site, consistent with the observation of superstructure reflections in electron diffraction, or a change in the ordered magnetic structure. Neutron diffraction data do not reveal any clear sign of either magnetic Bragg peaks or superlattice reflections. Furthermore, INS measurements clearly reveal the presence of a sharp inelastic excitation near 11 meV between 5 and 26 K, due to opening of a gap in the spin-excitation spectrum, which transforms into a broad response at and above 30 K. The magnitude of the spin gap (11 meV) as derived from the INS peak position agrees very well with the gap value as estimated from the bulk properties.

A combined neutron imaging and neutron diffraction facility, IMAT, is currently being built at the pulsed neutron spallation source ISIS in the U.K. A supermirror neutron guide is required to combine imaging and diffraction modes at the sample position in order to obtain suitable time of flight resolutions for energy selective imaging and diffraction experiments. IMAT will make use of a straight neutron guide and we consider here the optimization of the supermirror guide dimensions and characterisation of the resulting beam characteristics, including the homogeneity of the flux distribution in space and energy and the average and peak neutron fluxes. These investigations take into account some main design criteria: to maximise the neutron flux, to minimise geometrical artefacts in the open beam image at the sample position and to obtain a good energy resolution whilst retaining a large neutron bandwidth. All of these are desirable beam characteristics for the proposed imaging and diffraction analysis modes of IMAT.