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Lens-coupled X-ray computed tomography (X-ray CT) using a transparent scintillator imaged on a CCD camera obtains higher spatial resolution than the more commonly employed phosphor-enhanced amorphous silicon (A-Si) panels. A-Si panels are limited to resolution typically greater than ~200 microns, have a limited working life due to degradation with dose, and provide intrinsically low efficiency with thin (few hundred microns thick) phosphor coatings. Demanding applications such as imaging the interior of complex additively manufactured components require high throughput and high resolution, best achieved with a lens-coupled system. However, for large fields-of-view, very large area but thin transparent scintillators are required – a format difficult to fabricate with high light yield single crystals – therefore, glass scintillators with both modest X-ray interaction and light yield have been used for years. We have developed a new polycrystalline transparent ceramic scintillator, Gd0.3Lu1.6Eu0.1O3, or “GLO,” that offers excellent stopping power and light yield for improved contrast in sizes up to 14” x 14” plates, with thicknesses in the 2-10 mm range, and we are implementing it in systems to increase imaging throughput for 9 MeV Bremsstrahlung X-ray CT. CT imaging performance will be described.

High energy X-rays and neutrons can provide 3-D volumetric views of large objects made of multiple materials. Lenscoupled computed tomography using a scintillator imaged on a CCD camera obtains high spatial resolution, while a surface-mounted segmented scintillator on an amorphous silicon (A-Si) array can provide high throughput. For MeV Xray CT, a new polycrystalline transparent ceramic scintillator referred to as “GLO” offers excellent stopping power and light yield for improved contrast in sizes up to a 12” field-of-view. For MeV neutron CT, we have fabricated both contiguous and segmented plates of “Hi-LY” plastic scintillator, offering light yields 3x higher than standard plastic.

We report on the development of two new mechanically rugged, high light yield transparent ceramic scintillators: (1) Ce-doped Gd-garnet for gamma spectroscopy, and (2) Eu-doped Gd-Lu-bixbyite for radiography. GYGAG(Ce) garnet transparent ceramics offer ρ = 5.8g/cm3, Zeff = 48, principal decay of 8 lp/mm.

x-Ray computed axial tomography (CT) provides cross-sectional views of materials, components, and assemblies for industrial non-destructive evaluation. We have applied CT imaging to quantitatively measure the 3-D distribution ogf x-ray attenuation at reasonably high resolutions. In our industrial x-ray CT-studies, we have centered on two technical approaches: a first-generation translate/rotate CT system that consist of well-collimated (∼ 0.55 mm) photon source detector, and a third-generation scanner that uses a fluoroscopy detector.

The mix between x-ray phase and attenuation information needs to be understood for accurate object recovery from radiography and tomography data. We are researching and experimentally validating algorithms that simulate x-ray phase contrast to determine the required physics necessary for quantitative object recovery. The results of a study are described to determine if a multislice (beam-propagation) method is required for simulating x-ray radiographs. We conclude that the multislice method is not required for accurate simulation of greater than or equal to 8 keV x-ray radiographs of millimeter-size objects with micrometer structures.

An x-ray tomography system is being developed for high resolution inspection of large objects. The goal is to achieve 25 micron resolution over object sizes that are tens of centimeters in extent. Typical objects will be metal in composition and therefore high energy, few MeV x-rays will be required. A proof-of-principle system with a limited field of view has been developed. Preliminary results are presented.

Members of the Nondestructive Evaluation Section at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) are implementing the advanced three-dimensional imaging technique of x- and gamma-ray computed tomography (CAT or CT) for industrial and scientific obscured object evaluation. This technique provides internal and external views of materials, components, and assemblies nonintrusively. Our work includes building of CT scanners as well as data preprocessing, image reconstruction, display and analysis algorithms. These capabilities have been applied to a variety of industrial and scientific NDE applications. We have used CT to study various objects with obscured features at our laboratory ranging in size from 1 mm3 to 1 m3. In these studies, CT has revealed flaws (e.g. cracks, voids, and inclusions), internal and external dimensional information, differences in elemental composition or material density, and other important material characteristics. CT has also been used to localize, identify, and quantify radioisotopes within canisters. As illustrative examples, we describe how CT was instrumental in the analysis of concrete specimens, diesel engine thermocouple plugs, jet engine turbine blades, ballistic target materials, and radioactive waste canisters.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

We discuss three-dimensional dynamic thermal imaging of structural flaws using dual-band infrared (DBIR) computed tomography. Conventional (single-band) thermal imaging is difficult to interpret. It yields imprecise or qualitative information (e.g., when subsurface flaws produce weak heat flow anomalies masked by surface clutter). We use the DBIR imaging technique to clarify interpretation. We capture the time history of surface temperature difference patterns at the epoxy-glue disbond site of a flash-heated lap joint. This type of flawed structure played a significant role in causing damage to the Aloha Aircraft fuselage on the aged Boeing 737 jetliner. The magnitude of surface-temperature differences versus time for 0.1 mm air layer compared to 0.1 mm glue layer, varies from 0.2 to 1.6 degree(s)C, for simultaneously scanned front and back surfaces. The scans are taken every 42 ms from 0 to 8 s after the heat flash. By ratioing 3 - 5 micrometers and 8 - 12 micrometers DBIR images, we located surface temperature patterns from weak heat flow anomalies at the disbond site and remove the emissivity mask from surface paint of roughness variations. Measurements compare well with calculations based on TOPAX3D, a three-dimensional, finite element computer model. We combine infrared, ultrasound and x-ray imaging methods to study heat transfer, bond quality and material differences associated with the lap joint disbond site.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.