Properties of the Radiography Facility Neutra at Sinq and Its Potential for Use as European Reference Facility

At December 3rd 1996, the spallation neutron source SINQ had its first proton beam on the target. With a steady-state proton beam of 850 μA this facility is now the strongest of its kind in the world. One of the first experimental facilities in operation was the radiography station NEUTRA (for NEUtron Transmission Radiography). The design was described at earlier meetings 1, 2 and the first validation measurements were reported 3. There are some advantages in comparison to other radiography stations at research reactors. This will be demonstrated in detail by means of the measured values and examples of practical applications. The use as reference facility will be envisaged within an European project (COST-524).