<i>In situ</i>diagnostics of the crystal-growth process through neutron imaging: application to scintillators

Tremsin, Anton S.; Makowska, Małgorzata; Perrodin, Didier; Shalapska, T.; Khodyuk, I. V.; Trtik, Pavel; Boillat, Pierre; Vogel, Sven C.; Losko, Adrian S.; Ströbl, Markus; Kuhn, Luise Theil; Bizarri, Grégory; Bourret-Courchesne, Edith

doi:10.1107/s1600576716004350

Cited by 17 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The shape and location of the liquid/solid interface are among the important diagnostic parameters, which can be used for process optimization 20 . These can be visualized in nearly real time by white spectrum neutron transmission images 19 in cases where the variation of elemental composition and/or density provides a sufficient contrast. Results of our experiments demonstrate that the neutron transmission images can reveal the location of the interface as the crystals were solidified over a ~16-hour and a ~9-hour period for the 5 and 0.5 mole % Eu doped samples, respectively, Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, many materials opaque to conventional X-ray techniques can still be interrogated with neutrons. This approach enables multimodality provided by the different nature of neutron interactions that can occur within the material: the elemental composition within the growth volume can be studied through the neutron resonance absorption 7 8 9 10 11 12 the temperature distribution can be measured through the Doppler broadening of neutron resonances 13 14 15 ; some crystallographic properties can be investigated through the coherent neutron scattering 16 17 ; and the shape and location of the solid/liquid interface, the presence of cracks, impurities, and macroscopic defects can be revealed by neutron transmission imaging and tomography 18 19 .…”

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confidence: 99%

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Real-time Crystal Growth Visualization and Quantification by Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging

Tremsin

Perrodin

Losko

et al. 2017

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Energy-resolved neutron imaging is investigated as a real-time diagnostic tool for visualization and in-situ measurements of “blind” processes. This technique is demonstrated for the Bridgman-type crystal growth enabling remote and direct measurements of growth parameters crucial for process optimization. The location and shape of the interface between liquid and solid phases are monitored in real-time, concurrently with the measurement of elemental distribution within the growth volume and with the identification of structural features with a ~100 μm spatial resolution. Such diagnostics can substantially reduce the development time between exploratory small scale growth of new materials and their subsequent commercial production. This technique is widely applicable and is not limited to crystal growth processes.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Real-time Crystal Growth Visualization and Quantification by Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging

Tremsin

Perrodin

Losko

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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“…Yan et al (2016) acknowledged the issue of cracking during post-growth cooling in Czochralski growth of 5% Eu-doped BaBrCl, noting the need for additional insulation and reflectors to make a more isothermal zone for crack-free cooling. Tremsin et al (2016Tremsin et al ( , 2017 used cold, thermal and epi-thermal neutron radiography to image Eu concentration variations and crystal cracking in situ during growth in a Bridgman furnace, discovering that cracks propagated from clusters of low Eu concentration. In particular, through real-time visual inspection of Eu-doped BaBrCl in transparent Bridgman and Czochralski furnaces, our group has observed cracking during cooling around 673 K (well below the melting temperature of 1159 K).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystal structure evolution of BaBrCl and BaBrCl:5%Eu up to 1073 K by neutron diffraction

et al. 2018

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BaBrCl:Eu is a promising scintillator material; however, the crystal growth yield must be improved for it to become commercially viable. This study measures strain accumulations in the crystal lattice which can contribute to cracking during post-growth cooling. Neutron diffraction is used to measure the crystal structure of undoped and 5 mol% europium-doped BaBrCl from 303 to 1073 K, approaching the melting point. Rietveld analysis of these data provides the temperature dependence of the thermal and chemical strain in BaBrCl. In particular, anisotropic thermal expansion is measured, with expansion along thebaxis nearly double the expansion along theaandcaxes. Additionally, the chemical strain from the incorporation of europium atoms peaks around 673 K, explaining cracking frequently observed in that temperature range.

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“…The results of these efforts are reported in several publications [55][56][57]. Furthermore, the unique capabilities of energy-resolved neutron imaging for single crystal characterization were applied to characterize natural gold single crystals [58].…”

Section: J Imaging 2018 4 X For Peer Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neutron Imaging at LANSCE—From Cold to Ultrafast

et al. 2018

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(Lujan center), Flight Path 5 beam line and continues to be refined. Applications include: imaging of metallic and ceramic nuclear fuels, fission gas measurements, tomography of fossils and studies of dopants in scintillators. The technique provides the ability to characterize materials opaque to thermal neutrons and to utilize neutron resonance analysis codes to quantify isotopes to within 0.1 atom %. The latter also allows measuring fuel enrichment levels or the pressure of fission gas remotely. More recently, the cold neutron spectrum at the ASTERIX beam line, also located at Target 1, was used to demonstrate phase contrast imaging with pulsed neutrons. This extends the capabilities for imaging of thin and transparent materials at LANSCE. In contrast, high-energy neutron imaging at LANSCE, using unmoderated fast spallation neutrons from Target 4 [Weapons Neutron Research (WNR) facility] has been developed for applications in imaging of dense, thick objects. Using fast (ns), time-of-flight imaging, enables testing and developing imaging at specific, selected MeV neutron energies. The 4FP-60R beam line has been reconfigured with increased shielding and new, larger collimation dedicated to fast neutron imaging. The exploration of ways in which pulsed neutron beams and the time-of-flight method can provide additional benefits is continuing. We will describe the facilities and instruments, present application examples and recent results of all these efforts at LANSCE.

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In situdiagnostics of the crystal-growth process through neutron imaging: application to scintillators

Cited by 17 publications

References 35 publications

Real-time Crystal Growth Visualization and Quantification by Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging

Real-time Crystal Growth Visualization and Quantification by Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging

Crystal structure evolution of BaBrCl and BaBrCl:5%Eu up to 1073 K by neutron diffraction

Neutron Imaging at LANSCE—From Cold to Ultrafast

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