Reconstruction of "N" phantom (shown above), with faithful reproduction of phantom shape in 3D and 2 separate elements clearly separated using spectral characteristics.

Pioneered at Duke, Neutron Stimulated Emission Computed Tomography (NSECT) uses fast neutrons at low intensities to stimulate gamma emission, which can allow non-invasive study of element concentrations inside the body. This in turn can reveal cancer, liver disease, or a number of other abnormalities.

Currently the neutron source is provided by the Triangle Universities Nuclear Lab (TUNL). The beam transport system is shown below, from left to right: deuteron generation, transport deuteron beam, accelerate deuterons, transport again to neutron source.

Results here include actual tomographic and spectral data from an "N" phantom with Cu vertical bars (orange) and 2 diagonal Fe bars (grey).

Neutron beam is emitted from collimator (orange-colored metal, right of center) in shield wall of background, striking target held in gantry (right). Emitted gammas are detected by gamma camera (left). The beam transport system is illustrated above.

A neutron-stimulated gamma spectrum with characteristic peaks corresponding to iron and copper in a sample.

This movie demonstrates simulations of the NSECT technique.

The phantom being imaged is the "N" phantom shown above, with Cu vertical bars (orange) and 2 diagonal Fe bars (grey).

During the simulated tomographic acquisition, neutrons fly in from left to right (blue), stimulating emission of gammas (green), some of which are intercepted in the gamma camera detector (purlple cylinder in lower left).

To acquire tomographic data, first generation CT techniques are used, where the "N" phantom is shifted and translated about the fixed detector. In this movie, the "N" phantom is moved from bottom to top, then rotated slightly and moved again.