Abstract-High resolution neutron imaging is difficult, due to the low-light output of neutron scintillators, and the spread of light within common neutron-sensitive scintillators as well as the spread of intermediate particles occurring during the detection process. To address this issue, we have developed a high-resolution scintillator for neutron imaging by combining enriched 10 B with the well-known CsI:Tl scintillator films. CsI:Tl has excellent properties for X-ray imaging applications, due to a high light yield of 60,000 photons/MeV, and high spatial resolution, which derives from its microcolumnar structure, which channels scintillation light to the photodetector. To enable CsI:Tl to detect neutrons, 10 B (96% enriched) was deposited by electron-beam directly onto the CsI:Tl film, making a layered scintillator structure in which the alphas produced by the neutron interaction with 10 B are detected in the CsI:Tl. The 10 B layer was approximately 3 µm thick, while the thickness of the CsI:Tl film was 11 µm. These novel layered scintillators were integrated into the high-resolution neutron imaging detector ('PSI Neutron Microscope') at the POLDI beamline at the Paul Scherer Institute (PSI). With our 10 B/CsI:Tl scintillator we were able to achieve a spatial resolution down to 9 µm. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the layered scintillator, we present results obtained by thermal neutron imaging as well as high-resolution neutron computed tomography. Finally, we believe there is considerable scope for future optimization of the performance of this system.
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