This book introduces the wide range of neutron based characterization techniques, and their impact in cultural heritage research, to the broad community of archeologists, paleontologists, restaurateurs and conservators, historians and holders of private collections as well as material scientists and engineers dealing with the characterization of ancient materials. Answers to many practical questions will be given in conjunction with detailed examples describing some of the more fascinating highlights of applications of neutron techniques in recent investigations, in a form accessible to a large readership. The first section of the book will be dedicated to stories describing spectacular discoveries brought about by the use of neutron techniques in various applications. The second section will cover the experimental techniques in appropriate detail: basic principles, limitations and fields of application.Neutron based characterization techniques play a fundamental role in the conservation of cultural heritage because neutrons are very penetrating and therefore ideal for the non-invasive investigation of artefacts, allowing both surface and bulk properties to be measured. The full suite of neutron techniques available for Cultural Heritage research is impressive and many essential results have been obtained using one or more of these tools to provide information that cannot be determined in any other way. Neutron methods allow the characterization of the composition and mechanical properties of ancient materials, helping to answer questions related to the dating, the manufacturing process or the state of degradation of artefacts. The results obtained from neutron investigations are often essential for putting in place the proper restoration and conservation strategies or for establishing the correct classification of ancient samples.
Part I Cultural Heritage and Neutrons.-
1. Probing our Heritage with
Neutrons - One Successful Story.-
2. Bronze Sculptures and Lead Objects tell
Stories about their Creators.-
3. Paintings Reveal their Secrets.-
4.
Neutrons Unveil Secrets of Musical Instruments.-
5. The Glory of Ancient
Weapons and Armors; F. Salvemini.-
6. Ceramics, Marbles and Stones in the
Light of Neutrons.-
7. Paleontology - Fossilized Ancestors Re-Awaken by
Neutron Radiography.- Part II Experimental Methods.-
8. General Introduction
to Neutron Physics and Instrumentation.-
9. Scattering Techniques: Small- and
Wide-Angle Neutron Diffraction.-
10. Nuclear Analysis Techniques.-
11.
Nuclear Analysis Imaging Techniques.-
12. Neutron Activation
Autoradiography.-
13. Neutron imaging.
Dr. Nikolay Kardjilov is a researcher at the Institute of Applied Materials of the Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB), Germany. He is beamline scientists responsible for the neutron imaging instrument CONRAD-2 at the research reactor BER-2.
His research interests relate to development of new experimental techniques for investigation of the structure and property of materials from the science and the industry with the help of neutron radiation.
Dr. Kardjilov has designed and build the neutron imaging instrument at HZB and has worked on the development of methods using different contrast mechanisms like phase- and diffraction-contrast imaging, visualizing of magnetic fields by polarized neutrons and high-resolution applications. These methods are implemented nowadays at different facilities worldwide and are provided to the user community for addressing a broad spectrum of scientific and industrial problems.
In the field of archaeological research he worked together with guest researchers on different subjects related to investigation of underwater logged objects from sheep wrecks near Sicily, Italy, structure analysis of ancient Egyptian bronze statues and material characterization of old Japanese swords and armor components.
Dr. Giulia Festa is an experimental physicist. Her research interests relate to the development of neutron instrumentation for applications on materials and, in particular, applied to the study of materials of archaeological and cultural interest. Dr. Festa has been working on the development of various neutron instrumentation and devices for gamma and neutron detection (Silicon Photo-Multiplier technology, neutron radiative capture-based counting techniques, gamma spectroscopy). She has been involved in European Research projects developing ancillary equipment to be used for emerging neutron imaging techniques on historical objects as well as software for data analysis. In the field of archaeological research Dr. Festa carried out several multidisciplinary studies such as an integrated neutron analysis of the Ghiberti East Door from the Florence Baptistery determining state of conservation and manufacturing technique, and the characterisation of construction methods in musical instruments from theFondo Antico della Biblioteca del Sacro Convento in Assisi.
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