New neutron imaging techniques for cultural heritage purposes

New techniques are being developed by the Ancient Charm Collaboration to image in three dimensions the composition of objects with cultural heritage importance. The first implemented technique, Prompt-Gamma ray Activation Imaging combined with cold neutron transmission tomography was tested successfully but with a low spatial resolution on artificial objects at the research reactor of Budapest (Hungary). The technique is now transferred to the FRM-II reactor of Munich (Germany) where the neutron beam flux is two orders of magnitude higher. Two other new techniques, Neutron Resonance Capture Imaging and Neutron Resonance Transmission Tomography are under implementation at the pulse neutron source ISIS (UK). Monte-Carlo simulations were performed to find out the best analytical procedures and first tests were obtained by a prototype pixelated detector sensitive to epithermal neutrons.