NINMACH 2017

Recent uses of neutron imaging for the study of cultural heritage objects in Argentina

12 Oct 2017, 10:35

20m

Felolvasóterem (Hungarian Academy of Sciences)

Oral presentation Neutron imaging Neutron Imaging 2.

Speaker

Mr Julio Marin (Centro Atómico Bariloche, CNEA, Av. Ezequiel Bustillo 9500, Bariloche, Argentina)

Description

The only neutron imaging facility in Argentina is placed at the RA6 research reactor which is located in the Bariloche Atomic Centre, Argentina. In 2010, the reactor’s core was upgraded and its power increased to 1 MW, for that reason all its associated facilities were redesigned. The neutron beam of the neutron imaging facility uses a radial extraction tube and has a double cone collimator with L/D=100. The sample is placed in a shielded space of 40 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm. The back wall of this space is an aluminium sheet that supports a 20 cm x 20 cm 6LiF/ZnS:Ag scintillation screen. The spatial resolution of the facility is of about 200 microns. After two years employed characterizing the beamline, tomographic capabilities were incorporated. 3D reconstructions using a locally developed inexpensive system were performed, being these the first of its kind done in Argentina (see figure included). In this work we present our recent experience in the application of neutron radiography and neutron tomography to objects belonging to the cultural heritage. We have worked with objects from excavations on gardens and dumps of historical houses of the city of Buenos Aires provided by the Heritage and Historical Institute of the City of Buenos Aires. Another collaboration was established with Adam Hajduk, a local archaeologist. We studied a sceptre made of wood and silver. In addition, we have used the facility to study fossils provided by two local institutions: the Bariloche’s Paleontological Association and the Lago Gutiérrez Museum. Finally, we analysed the homogeneity of a metal medallion by combining gamma spectroscopy with neutron imaging.