Journal of Nuclear Science, Engineering and Technology (JONSAT)
In cooperation with the Iranian Nuclear Society

Investigating the effect of data acquisition geometry and image reconstruction method on neutron computed tomography images at Tehran Research Reactor

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

N. Araghian
A. Movafeghi
B. Rokrok
M.H. Mansouri
Z. Naghshnezhad
M. Farzmahdi

Reactor and Nuclear Safety Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, AEOI, P.O.Box: 14155-1339, Tehran - Iran

https://doi.org/10.24200/nst.2022.1038.1700
Abstract
Neutron Computed Tomography (nCT) is one of the modern applications of research reactors. The combination of the Three-dimensional representation capability of tomographic imaging and the unique properties of neutron interaction with materials creates valuable information about the internal structure of materials and components. In this study, the effect of data acquisition geometry and method of image reconstruction on tomographic images of the Tehran Research Reactor Imaging Facility (TRRIF) have been investigated based on contrast and the ratio of contrast to noise parameters. In experimental data acquisition, two radiation geometries have been aligned with angular steps of 1 and 0.5 degrees, respectively. Two samples were turned within the neutron radiation field at a half-screen. Image reconstruction has been performed through FBP and ART, SART, and SIRT algorithms, using Python programming language. The stack of images has been rendered to gain sample volume. Initially, in order to reconstruct the image through a high-quality set of projections, experimental data acquisition parameters have been optimized. Then, pre-processing has been carried out on projections. The results showed that the sample components and some defects could be differentiated from each other. Contrast and CNR were improved in data acquisition geometry with smaller angular steps and through SIRT reconstruction method.

Highlights

  1. International Atomic Energy Agency, Neutron Imaging: A non-destructive tool for material testing report of acoordinated research project, IAEA-Tecdoc-1604 (2008).

 

  1. The Noble Prize, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/ medicine/1979, Retrived: January (2022).

 

  1. M. Strobl, et al., Advances in neutron radiography and tomography, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 42, 24 (2009).

 

  1. Ian S. Anderson, et al., Neutron Imaging and Applications, A Reference for the Imaging Community (Springer, 2009).

 

  1. E. Lehmann, Neutron Imaging Facilities in a Global Context, J. Imaging, 3, (2017).

 

  1. International Society for Neutron Radiography (ISNR), https://www.isnr.de/index.php/facilities/ facilities-worlwide.

 

  1. Iranian National Standardization Organization, Non-destructive testing — Radiation: methods for computed tomography —Part 1: Terminology, INSO 15992-1, Identical with ISO 15708-1:2017, 1st ed. (2019).

 

  1. K.K. Moghadam, Z. Tabatabaeian, N. Mirhabibi, Neutron Radiography Facility for AEOI Nuclear Research Center, In: Neutron Radiography, Edited by J. P. Barton et al., (Springer, Netherlands, 1987).

 

  1. K.K. Moghadam, F. Ziaie, Modification of the neutron beam spectrum for neutron radiography at Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 337 (1996).

 

  1. M.H. Choopan Dastjerdi, Ph.D. dessertation, Examination of domestic nuclear fuel by design and construction of a new neutron radiography system at Tehran Research Reactor, Nuclear Science and Thecnology Research Institute, (2015) (In Persian).

 

  1. International American Society for Testing and Metrial, Standard Method for Determining Image Quality in Direct Thermal Neutron Radiographic Examination, Standard ASTM E545, 4 (2005).

 

  1. B. Rokrok, et al., Design and Construction of the Neutron Radiography Facility for Tehran Research Reactor with Real-Time Digital Imaging Capability, Nondestruct. Test. Evaluation, 2, 7 (2021) (In Persian).

 

  1. D. Micieli, T. Minniti, G. Gorini, NeuTomPy toolbox, a Python package for tomographic data processing and reconstruction, SoftwareX, 9 (2019).

 

  1. W. Van Aarle, et al., The ASTRA Toolbox: A platform for advanced algorithm development in electron tomography, Ultramicroscopy, 157, (2015).

 

  1. A.P. Kaestner, MuhRec—A new tomography reconstructor, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sec., A, 651, 1, (2011).

 

  1. J.T. Bushberg, et al., The essential physics of medical imaging, 3rd ed. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA, 2011).

 

  1. E. Seeram, Computed Tomography: Physical Principles, Clinical Applications, and Quality Control, (Elsevier Health Sciences, 2015).

 

  1. G.L. Zeng, Medical Image Reconstruction: A Conceptual Tutorial, 1st ed. (Springer, 2010).

 

  1. J. Hsieh, Computed Tomography: principles, Design, Artifaccts and Recent Applications, 3rd ed., (Wiley Inter-Science, 2015).

 

  1. M. Beister, D. Kolditz, W. Kalender, Iterative reconstruction methods in X-ray, CT. Phys. Med., 28 (2012).

Keywords

Neutron computed tomography (nCT)
Tehran research reactor
Image processing
CT image reconstruction
Data acquisition geometry
  1. International Atomic Energy Agency, Neutron Imaging: A non-destructive tool for material testing report of acoordinated research project, IAEA-Tecdoc-1604 (2008).

 

  1. The Noble Prize, https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/ medicine/1979, Retrived: January (2022).

 

  1. M. Strobl, et al., Advances in neutron radiography and tomography, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., 42, 24 (2009).

 

  1. Ian S. Anderson, et al., Neutron Imaging and Applications, A Reference for the Imaging Community (Springer, 2009).

 

  1. E. Lehmann, Neutron Imaging Facilities in a Global Context, J. Imaging, 3, (2017).

 

  1. International Society for Neutron Radiography (ISNR), https://www.isnr.de/index.php/facilities/ facilities-worlwide.

 

  1. Iranian National Standardization Organization, Non-destructive testing — Radiation: methods for computed tomography —Part 1: Terminology, INSO 15992-1, Identical with ISO 15708-1:2017, 1st ed. (2019).

 

  1. K.K. Moghadam, Z. Tabatabaeian, N. Mirhabibi, Neutron Radiography Facility for AEOI Nuclear Research Center, In: Neutron Radiography, Edited by J. P. Barton et al., (Springer, Netherlands, 1987).

 

  1. K.K. Moghadam, F. Ziaie, Modification of the neutron beam spectrum for neutron radiography at Tehran Research Reactor (TRR), Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. A, 337 (1996).

 

  1. M.H. Choopan Dastjerdi, Ph.D. dessertation, Examination of domestic nuclear fuel by design and construction of a new neutron radiography system at Tehran Research Reactor, Nuclear Science and Thecnology Research Institute, (2015) (In Persian).

 

  1. International American Society for Testing and Metrial, Standard Method for Determining Image Quality in Direct Thermal Neutron Radiographic Examination, Standard ASTM E545, 4 (2005).

 

  1. B. Rokrok, et al., Design and Construction of the Neutron Radiography Facility for Tehran Research Reactor with Real-Time Digital Imaging Capability, Nondestruct. Test. Evaluation, 2, 7 (2021) (In Persian).

 

  1. D. Micieli, T. Minniti, G. Gorini, NeuTomPy toolbox, a Python package for tomographic data processing and reconstruction, SoftwareX, 9 (2019).

 

  1. W. Van Aarle, et al., The ASTRA Toolbox: A platform for advanced algorithm development in electron tomography, Ultramicroscopy, 157, (2015).

 

  1. A.P. Kaestner, MuhRec—A new tomography reconstructor, Nucl. Instrum. Methods Phys. Res. Sec., A, 651, 1, (2011).

 

  1. J.T. Bushberg, et al., The essential physics of medical imaging, 3rd ed. (Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia, PA, 2011).

 

  1. E. Seeram, Computed Tomography: Physical Principles, Clinical Applications, and Quality Control, (Elsevier Health Sciences, 2015).

 

  1. G.L. Zeng, Medical Image Reconstruction: A Conceptual Tutorial, 1st ed. (Springer, 2010).

 

  1. J. Hsieh, Computed Tomography: principles, Design, Artifaccts and Recent Applications, 3rd ed., (Wiley Inter-Science, 2015).

 

  1. M. Beister, D. Kolditz, W. Kalender, Iterative reconstruction methods in X-ray, CT. Phys. Med., 28 (2012).

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