Experimental study of spatial resolution of MCPs for compact high-resolution neutron radiography system

Neutron-sensitive microchannel plates (MCPs) have been widely used as detectors in neutron radiography systems due to their high neutron detection efficiency and superior spatial resolution. These MCPs are typically employed in large-scale facilities with high neutron flux and large L/D ratios, allowing them to achieve excellent spatial resolution. However, it was uncertain whether the MCPs' high-resolution advantage could be fully utilized in compact radiography systems with limited neutron yield and lower L/D ratios. To investigate this, thermal neutron imaging experiments were conducted in this paper. The results showed that MCPs can offer a 0.25 mm spatial resolution, compared to the 0.3 mm of a 6LiF/ZnS detector. Additionally, a centroid algorithm imaging technique was utilized to further enhance the MCPs' spatial resolution up to 0.2 mm. This research on MCPs can also be used as a reference for other neutron radiography systems with limited L/D ratios.