Demonstration of tomographic imaging of isotope distribution by nuclear resonance fluorescence

Abstract

Computed Tomography (CT) using X-ray attenuation by atomic effects is now widely used for medical diagnosis and industrial non-destructive inspection. In this study, we performed a tomographic imaging of isotope (²⁰⁸Pb) distribution by the Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence (NRF), i.e. isotope specific resonant absorption and scattering of gamma rays, using Laser Compton Scattering (LCS) gamma rays. The NRF-CT image which includes both effects of atomic attenuation and nuclear resonant attenuation was obtained. By accounting for the atomic attenuation measured by a conventional method at the same time, a clear ²⁰⁸Pb isotope CT image was obtained. The contrast degradation due to notch refilling caused by small-angle Compton scattering is discussed. This study clearly demonstrates the capability of the isotope-specific CT imaging based on nuclear resonant attenuation which will be a realistic technique when the next generation of extremely intense LCS gamma-ray sources will be available. The expected image acquisition time using these intense LCS gamma rays was discussed.