3D reconstruction of radioactive sample utilizing gamma tomography

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2018-07, Vol.895, p.107-111
• Main Authors: Zoul, David, Zháňal, Pavel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Collimator; G–M tube; Radioactivity; Radon space; Robotic scanner; Tomography
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2018.03.071

Unique three-dimensional (3D) tomography apparatus was developed and successfully tested at Research Centre Rez, which concentrates at investigation of the degradation of microstructural and mechanical properties of structural materials of nuclear reactors components after a long-term operating exposure. The apparatus allows a 3D view into the interior of low-dimension radioactive samples with a diameter up to several centimeters and a resolution in order of cubic millimeters. It is designed to detect domains with different levels of radioactivity such as cavities, cracks or regions with different chemical composition. The unique collimator design, the use of stepper motors for fine and accurate sample scanning, along with advanced 3D image reconstruction software developed at Research Centre Rez, enables a resolution approaching 1 mm3. Devices working on a similar principle have been used for decades, e.g., in nuclear medicine for the diagnosis of malignant tumors, and are increasingly being applied in the nuclear industry. However, for the first time similar equipment is used for non-destructive testing of low-dimension radioactive samples. •The 3D scanner of activity levels was built in hot cells facility within Research Centre Rez.•The scanner was successfully tested.•The scanner has resolution better than of 1 mm3.•Samples of activity levels from 1 MBq to 1 TBq can be measured.•Improvements of scanner are possible and in process.