In situ diagnostics of the crystal-growth process through neutron imaging: application to scintillators

The unique possibilities enabled by neutron imaging for in situ remote diagnostics of microstructural characteristics during crystal growth are demonstrated, even when the materials and surrounding structures are opaque to other more conventional interrogation techniques. Neutron radiography is implemented to image remotely the uniformity of elemental distribution (e.g. dopant concentration) during crystal growth, the location of the liquid/solid interface and the presence of macroscopic crystal defects (e.g. cracks), all with a temporal resolution of 5–7 s.

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