Neutron imaging provides unique and powerful insight into the operation of many alternative energy devices, the flow in porous media, and the composition of materials due to the combination of the neutron’s high sensitivity to light elements and high penetration through most metals. NIST currently maintains the world’s premier thermal neutron imaging facility for hydrogen fuel cell research and is building a new cold neutron imaging facility that is expected to be operational in summer 2014. NIST seeks to further develop the technique of neutron imaging through improving the image spatial resolution; employing novel neutron optical methods; and studying problems in two-phase flow, electrochemical systems, biology, and materials science. Ongoing research topics in neutron optical methods include neutron focusing mirrors based on Wolter optics, neutron energy-selective imaging, neutron phase imaging with a Talbot-Lau interferometer, polarized neutron imaging, simultaneous x-ray and neutron tomography, and novel instrument concepts combining imaging with other scattering techniques such as small-angle neutron scattering.

 

key words

Neutron; Imaging; Neutron imaging; Hydrogen; Hydrogen storage; Energy selective imaging; Fuel cell; Lithium battery; Proton exchange; Phase imaging; Polarized neutron imaging; Neutron focusing optics; Porous Media; Geology; Heat transfer; Heat pipes; Two-phase flow; Small-angle neutron scattering; Radiography; Tomography; Image processing; X-ray imaging;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants