[en] Inspection of cultural heritage artifact by neutron imaging becoming interesting and important research area since its able to sees internal structure non-destructively. Therefore advanced neutron imaging capability to conduct this kind of inspection is needed. Associated with this needs, TRIGA MARK II PUSPATI reactor has neutron imaging facility, NUR-2 which capable for radiography and tomography usage. Details parameters of current set up is given. Neutron radiography capability at this facility has been relied on direct method technique by the usage of SR-45 KODAK film technology. Current set-up has been used by university student through-out the country to conduct their research in various levels of educations

[en] Undoubtedly, neutron imaging is one of the best investigation techniques for cultural heritage researches. Cultural heritage is what we obtain from the past and pass on to future generation. It contains unique and irreplaceable record that is important to fulfill our understanding about the past. Recently, many cultural heritages remain untouched and historical records are ambiguous because scientific method of proof is difficult to make without destruction. Fortunately, the neutron imaging technique allows property of neutron that can penetrate through object providing non-invasive characterization. The intensity of transmitting neutron varies upon neutron flux at exposing position and elemental composition in particular objects. Consequently, the object’s provenance, manufacturing technology, authentication, and hidden structure can be determined. To achieve a high quality image and further service for cultural heritage research, good facility and practice are of significant concerns.This CRP provides great opportunity to develop neutron facility and to standardize methodology in Thailand. After official meeting between Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT) and Office of National Museum (ONM), Fine Arts Department on 24th January 2011, we are agreed to collaborate in CRP- F11018. With supporting from IAEA, the neutron imaging technology will be sustainable developed and the strengthen collaboration between TINT and ONM will be established. TINT scientists will work in an appropriate channel to meet the state-of-the-art end user’s requirements. Since the hidden historical records will be revealed, we strongly believe that the adapted neutron imaging technique will help answer questions regarding ancient Thais

[en] Egypt Second Research Reactor (ETRR-2) is a pool-type reactor with an open water surface and variable core arrangement. The core power is 22 MWth cooled by light water, moderated by water and with beryllium reflectors. The design concept is based on the requirement of being a reactor of versatile utilizations, It has been mainly designed for: Basic and applied research in reactor physics and nuclear engineering, neutron radiography for research and industrial purpose, radioisotope production for medical and industrial purposes, beam hole experimentation for neutron scattering experiments and neutron radiography, material testing, material irradiation, activation analysis and training of scientific and technical personnel

[en] The ANTARES facility for neutron imaging is currently completely refurbished and will restart operation in summer 2012. ANTARES will again provide the combination of highest flux and highest resolution worldwide in neutron imaging. Additional methods include energy-dependent measurements (Bragg edges) for the identification of different elements and phases as well as (soon) phase gratings for linear phase contrast. With the collaboration partners The University of Queens (Canada), The Archäologisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege in Esslingen, Germany, and Archäologische Staatssammlung of Bavaria, Germany, research at ANTARES will focus on the examination of organic materials in combination with metal artefacts

[en] Neutron tomography has recently found new applications in many different fields like for example in Biology, Medicine, Geology, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. One of the reasons is the fast development in digital image recording and processing, which enables the computation of tomographic reconstructions from high-resolution images at a reasonable timescale. The development of new detectors with better signal-to-noise characteristics and faster read-out electronics has allowed the overcoming of some of the spatial and time resolution limitations of conventional neutron radiography and tomography. Nevertheless the quantification of neutron tomographic data is a challenging task in many cases. The diverse experimental conditions at different facilities (beam spectrum, collimation, background, etc.) hinder the distinct relation between attenuation coefficient and single material. In this case complementary methods should be used for determination of the chemical composition in multicomponent samples which can be related later to the obtained matrix of attenuation coefficients from the neutron tomographic measurement

[en] Neutron imaging is a non-destructive investigation method with a fast growing application field in materials research and fundamental science. The method is used broadly in the cultural heritage research as complementary technique to x-ray imaging. The ability of neutron beam to transmit thick layers of metal and the sensitivity to light elements makes the technique unique for detection of organic substances in metal and stone matrices. The high penetration power of neutrons allows for investigation of samples with real dimensions of about 100 cm3. The neutron imaging in cultural heritage helps to provide information about manufacturing processes and material properties which is very important for further restoration and conservation of the objects. The development of new methods like energy selective imaging and grating interferometry and the application of autoradiography increase the potential of the method for characterization of cultural heritage samples. The neutron tomography instrument CONRAD has been in operation since 2005 at the Hahn-Meitner research reactor at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB). Over the last 5 years, significant development work has been performed to expand the radiographic and tomographic capabilities of the beamline. New techniques have been implemented, including imaging with polarized neutrons, Bragg-edge mapping, high-resolution neutron imaging and grating interferometry. These methods together with the autoradiography have been provided to the user community as tools to help address scientific problems particularly in the field of cultural heritage and palaeontology. Descriptions and parameters of the facilities are given

[en] With the ability to analyze and visualize local resolved texture by neutron imaging a great tool is created for better understanding of the history of the material (cultural heritage sample). It is important knowledge for any kind of manufactured material like jewelry, weapons, sculpture … as the texture shows the manufacturing history. In addition archeological samples embedded in rocks and stones will show the history of the environment in terms of deformation, sedimentation and metamorphosis conditions. All the texture information is available nondestructive and in combination with the real space 3D model. In order to establish texture imaging by neutron radiation, the method has to be developed and tested from simple basic textured material (single crystal and single phase) in small steps to more advanced systems like rolled or recrystallizes metal samples and finally geological samples with multiphase systems and large variation in grain size. A set of wavelength dependent neutron radiography images under certain orientations is needed to calculate the ODF and understand the texture. To determine the sufficient number of single images for ODF calculation several test materials with different known textures are required. This has to be developed in an iterative process from single crystal orientation to polycrystalline multiphase and multitexture material as especially geological samples represent the most complex textures. As an important outcome a user-friendly software package should be available which should be tested at different facilities with different type of samples. Consistent results from these facilities are strongly required to encourage the cultural heritage community in accepting the method. The typical end user has only basic knowledge of texture and neutron imaging and has to rely on the correctness of the measurement and analyses

[en] The development of neutron imaging techniques as a tool for non-destructive analysis of the internal structure, defects and processes in industrial products, functional materials, objects of cultural heritage attracts considerable attention at the present time. The dedicated instruments are available at the many neutron sources. The IBR-2M high flux pulsed reactor is one of the most powerful pulsed neutron sources in the world with the average power 2 MW, power per neutron pulse 1850 MW and neutron flux in pulse of 5·10¹⁵ n/cm²/s. During the period December 2006 – December 2010 the reactor was on modernization for replacement of the reactor vessel and fuel elements. During 2011, the successful physical and power start-up of IBR-2M were performed. Now reactor is operational and can be used for research and development activities using neutron scattering techniques in next 25 years prospective. However, no instruments dedicated for neutron imaging is installed at IBR-2M so far. Moreover, in Russian Federation there is no dedicated neutron imaging facility for cultural heritage research at the moment

[en] Historical bronze objects play an important rule in cultural heritage research as this material was used for a broad variety of different purposes (tools, weapons, jewellery, cult objects,…) since more than 5000 years in most parts of the world (Africa, Asia, Europe). Furthermore this group of copper alloys shows high durability and has low susceptibility for corrosion, which explains the large number of objects, which have stand the test of time and wait to be studied. For the study of cultural heritage objects non-destructive testing methods are in many cases required and generally preferred. Neutron imaging provides a unique opportunity to thoroughly characterize bronze objects and to provide information on the inner structure also from larger objects while other conventional methods such as X-ray methods are restricted to surface regions of such metal objects. In the scope of this CRP we propose an interdisciplinary platform for non-destructive investigations of historical bronze objects using neutrons. The platform will provide a forum and link users from the cultural heritage area with partners from the neutron imaging community. As outcome we anticipate a document listing the possibilities and limitations of neutron imaging (such as neutron-radiography, -tomography, energy selective imaging,…) and other neutron based techniques (e.g. diffraction, PGAA,...) to investigate certain questions and problems from the cultural heritage area regarding bronze objects. The document should also contain possible methodical approaches (i.e. how to perform certain investigations) and list partners from the neutron imaging community, which could help in the planning and realization of investigations. The platform will intensify the collaboration and strengthen the connections between the involved research institutes from both areas neutron physics and cultural heritage and result in a long-lasting synergetic effect

[en] The pulsed neutron imaging using the time-of-flight method can give structural information on materials by using the characteristic features of the wavelength dependent neutron transmission. The crystal structure (lattice spacing), crystallite size, and preferred orientation in metal materials are investigated by analyzing the Bragg edge shapes and the elements by the resonance absorption peaks. Such information is important for characterizing the steels and other metal products, and only our group has the data analysis code for deducing such information. It is useful to apply the pulsed neutron imaging to the cultural heritages since the method helps to understand smithing and smelting processes of the specimens. The transmission method gives position dependent information and the diffraction gives complemental and more detailed data for the crystal structures and the textures. Therefore, the combined use of these methods is very useful for studying rigorously the crystal structure of cultural heritage samples. We have already collaborated with the Italian group for this direction, since the group has been performing the diffraction study. Therefore, we promote the research collaboratively for comprehensive and rigorous understanding of the crystallographic characteristics of the cultural heritages and archaeological specimens. The main object of this study is to obtain comprehensive crystallographic information of the cultural heritages and archaeological specimens. The main object of this study is to obtain comprehensive crystallographic information of the cultural heritages and the smithing and the smelting. To obtain such outcomes we are planning to perform mainly the pulsed neutron imaging using NOBORU at J-PARC, HUNS at Hokkaido University and INES at ISIS. We are the only group that can obtain the crystallographic images by using the pulsed neutron experiments coupled with the data analysis code we developed. In parallel we improve the Bragg edge analysis code and develop the data analysis code for the resonance absorption