The redesigned neutron imaging facility, NORMA at BNC, Budapest

Area of Science:

• Neutron imaging
• Material analysis
• Non-destructive testing

Background:

• The Neutron Optics and Radiography for Material Analysis (NORMA) facility at Budapest Neutron Center is crucial for non-destructive testing.
• Increasing demands for higher spatial and temporal resolution necessitated a system upgrade.

Purpose of the Study:

• To redesign and enhance the NORMA facility for improved performance in non-destructive testing.
• To achieve a better balance between spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and field of view.
• To systematically study the impact of various parameters on image quality.

Main Methods:

• Complete redesign and installation of the NORMA system using three independent modules.
• Systematic study of configurable settings to optimize spatial resolution, temporal resolution, and field of view.
• Investigation of rarely studied parameters, including pixel binning and lens f-stop, on spatial resolution.

Main Results:

• The redesigned NORMA facility enables highly configurable settings for diverse measurement tasks.
• Systematic studies identified key parameter effects, guiding optimal setup choices.
• Analysis revealed the impact of pixel binning and f-stop on spatial resolution.

Conclusions:

• The improved NORMA facility delivers high-quality neutron images for advanced material analysis.
• The new system supports planned observations, such as local water kinetics in fuel cells.
• Configurable modular design allows for tailored measurements balancing resolution and field of view.