Tomography and elemental analysis using neutrons in transmission

Expressions for the calculation of minimum detectable mass and length fractions of elements, compounds and mixtures in a sample using neutron attenuation coefficients are derived, based on previous work done with photon attenuation coefficients. These expression allow quantitative information about elemental concentration to be extracted from neutron transmission measurements and neutron transmission tomography. Calculations are carried out for the detectable mass fraction of hydrogen in a number of sample matrices of industrial interest and of elements in a water matrix highlighting the differences with photon attenuation measurements. Results are presented for three neutron energies, cold (0.001 eV), thermal (0.025 eV) and fast (14 MeV).