A new neutron imager, known as Neutron Imaging System North Pole, will use an array of thick apertures to image the neutrons produced in the burn region of imploding fusion capsules at the National Ignition Facility. While the resolution requirements and parameters that drive the design of this array are similar to traditional x-ray pinhole arrays, neutrons require thick apertures with narrow fields of view, and a precisely designed array of apertures is critical to allow alignment and capture the required images with 10-μm resolution. This work describes the mechanical parameters and limitations driving the design of the aperture array, in addition metrology and alignment requirements are discussed.

Date Published: 19 September 2016
PDF: 14 pages
Proc. SPIE 9966, Target Diagnostics Physics and Engineering for Inertial Confinement Fusion V, 99660B (19 September 2016); doi: 10.1117/12.2238657

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9966:
Target Diagnostics Physics and Engineering for Inertial Confinement Fusion V
Jeffrey A. Koch; Gary P. Grim, Editor(s)