Neutron tomography is a form of
computed tomography involving the production of
three-dimensional images by the detection of the absorbance of
neutrons produced by a
neutron source.[1] It creates a three-dimensional image of an object by combining multiple
planar images with a known separation.[2] It has a resolution of down to 25 μm.[3][4] Whilst its resolution is lower than that of
X-ray tomography, it can be useful for specimens containing low contrast between the
matrix and object of interest; for instance,
fossils with a high carbon content, such as plants or
vertebrate remains.[5]
Neutron tomography can have the unfortunate side-effect of leaving imaged samples radioactive if they contain appreciable levels of certain elements such as
cobalt,[5] however in practice this
neutron activation is low and short-lived such that the method is considered
non-destructive.
The increasing availability of
neutron imaging instruments at
research reactors and
spallation sources via
peer-reviewed user access programs[6] has seen neutron tomography achieve increasing impact across diverse applications including earth sciences, palaeontology, cultural heritage, materials research and engineering. In 2022, it was reported in the journal
Gondwana Research that an
ornithopoddinosaur was serendipitously discovered by neutron tomography in the gut content of Confractosuchus, a Cretaceous
crocodyliform from the
Winton Formation of central Queensland, Australia.[7] This is the first time that a dinosaur has been discovered using neutron tomography, and to this day, the partially digested dinosaur remains entirely embedded within the surrounding
matrix.[8]
Mays, C.; Cantrill, D. J.; Stilwell. J. D.; Bevitt. J. J. (2017). "Neutron tomography of Austrosequoia novae-zeelandiae comb. nov. (Late Cretaceous, Chatham Islands, New Zealand): implications for Sequoioideae phylogeny and biogeography". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 16 (7): 551–570.
doi:
10.1080/14772019.2017.1314898.
S2CID133375313.
References
^Grünauer, F.; Schillinger, B.; Steichele, E. (2004). "Optimization of the beam geometry for the cold neutron tomography facility at the new neutron source in Munich". Applied Radiation and Isotopes. 61 (4): 479–485.
Bibcode:
2004AppRI..61..479G.
doi:
10.1016/j.apradiso.2004.03.073.
PMID15246387.