Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), bo... more Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), both for diagnostics and conservation. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics that develops and applies new instrumentation for the study of CH. This process results in both optimized traditional state-of-the-art and highly innovative detection setups for spectrometric techniques. Examples of the former are X-rays, gamma-rays, visible-light and particles spectrometers tailored for CH applications, with optimized performances, reliability, weight, transportability, cost, absorbed power, and complementarity with other techniques. Regarding the latter, examples are ARDESIA, the array of detectors at the DAΦNE-Light facility, the MAXRS detection setup at the Riken-RAL muon beamline and the imaging facilities at the LENA Laboratory. Paths for next-generation instruments have been suggested, as in the case of the X-ray Superconductive Detectors and X-ray M...
A calculation of the rotational S_0(0) frequencies in high pressure solid para-hydrogen is perfor... more A calculation of the rotational S_0(0) frequencies in high pressure solid para-hydrogen is performed. Convergence of the perturbative series at high density is demonstrated by the calculation of second and third order terms. The results of the theory are compared with the available experimental data to derive the density behaviour of structural parameters. In particular, a strong increase of the value of the lattice constant ratio c/a and of the internuclear distance is determined. Also a decrease of the anisotropic intermolecular potential is observed which is attributed to charge transfer effects. The structural parameters determined at the phase transition may be used to calculate quantum properties of the rotationally ordered phase.
This paper reports the analysis of a single crystal copper rod aiming to characterize the microst... more This paper reports the analysis of a single crystal copper rod aiming to characterize the microstructural features related to the homogeneity of the single crystal growth and the presence, shape and extension of spatially distributed misaligned grains or areas. The analytical method used for such analysis is wavelength scan neutron radiography and monochromatic neutron tomography. Such methods allow determination of the extent of differently oriented single crystal areas, identifying the most part of the rod volume as a single domain. It was also possible to characterize the spatial distribution and the degree of alignment of local point-like or extended defects.
Gepulstes Neutronen-Transmissions-Imaging ist eine einzigartige Methode, die ortsaufgeloste Infor... more Gepulstes Neutronen-Transmissions-Imaging ist eine einzigartige Methode, die ortsaufgeloste Information zu physikalischen Eigenschaften von Materialien geben kann, wie z. B. kristallographische Charakteristika, Elemente, magnetische Felder usw. Diese Daten erhalt man, indem die Transmissionsspektren in Abhangigkeit von der Neutronenwellenlange in jedem Pixel eines zweidimensional ortsauflosenden Detektors untersucht werden. Wir haben diese Methode auf Proben des kulturellen Erbes angewandt und zwar auf japanische Schwerter. Drei dieser Proben waren Fragmente von Schwertern mit verschiedenen Flachen und unterschiedlichem Alter, die vierte war ein Schwert von voller Grose. Wir fanden in den Fragmentproben Unterschiede in der Textur und in der Grose der Kristallite, und der gequenchte Bereich lies sich im Schwert von voller Grose klar nachweisen. Weiterhin wurde eine chinesische Munze untersucht und die wichtigsten Elemente und Unterschiede in den kristallographischen Charakteristika i...
A large amount of iron and steel artifacts produced in the central European area between 2nd and ... more A large amount of iron and steel artifacts produced in the central European area between 2nd and 14th Centuries is constituted by pattern welded iron-phosphoric iron and steel components. Phosphoric iron is a substitutional alloy, which is obtained by using iron ore from swamps in which decomposition of dead organisms enriches the iron rich soil with phosphorous. The identification of phosphoric iron alloy in ancient artifacts is important for determining their place of origin, production procedure and technological characteristics. A well-established technique for investigating the bulk structure of ancient metallographic artifacts is neutron tomography, using cold neutrons. It provides image-data capable of enhancing differences between phosphorous rich iron and the standard iron areas. However, neutron imaging is costly and complex to implement. Therefore, the exploration of new techniques capable of providing additional data on the nature of alloys would be highly needed. A pilo...
Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2021
In this paper, we have studied an additively manufactured metallic component, intended for ultra-... more In this paper, we have studied an additively manufactured metallic component, intended for ultra-high vacuum application, the exit-snout of the MACHINA transportable proton accelerator beam-line. Metal additive manufacturing components can exhibit heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructures. Two non-destructive imaging techniques, X-ray computed tomography and Neutron Tomography, were employed to examine its microstructure. They unveiled the presence of porosity and channels, the size and composition of grains and intergranular precipitates, and the general behavior of the spatial distribution of the solidification lines. While X-ray computed tomography evidenced qualitative details about the surface roughness and internal defects, neutron tomography showed excellent ability in imaging the spatial density distribution within the component. The anisotropy of the density was attributed to the material building orientation during the 3D printing process. Density variations suggest th...
Abstract This is a continuation study that aims to investigate the structural features of arms an... more Abstract This is a continuation study that aims to investigate the structural features of arms and armour allegedly made of wootz, a form of pattered crucible steel first developed in ancient Southern India and already reported in the historical record around 300 BCE. Since artefacts made of wootz steel were highly priced for their superior mechanical and esthetical features, expedients to recreate the typical “watered silk” surface of wootz steel soon developed. In order to discern genuine from imitations, a non-invasive analytical approached based on neutron imaging methods was applied on a set of artefacts selected by the conservation department of the Wallace Collection. Polychromatic and monochromatic imaging methods were successfully applied to determine the structural properties of the samples related to the actual manufacturing process used to obtain the surface pattern.
A synergic combination of neutron techniques was applied to characterize non-invasively the lamin... more A synergic combination of neutron techniques was applied to characterize non-invasively the laminated structure of a set of ancient katana, part of the East Asian Collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in Sydney. Neutron tomography, diffraction, residual stress and Bragg-edge transmission analyses were undertaken on samples of well-known origin, time period and authorship to create a reference database on the main manufacturing methods developed by Japanese swordsmiths. In the attempt to attribute mumei (no-signature) blades basing on a scientific analytical method rather than a stylistic analysis, data from the reference samples were benchmarked against the results obtained from the unknown blade to identify differences and commonalities in the production process.
Abstract In this work we present the analysis of the micro-structural features of ancient Indian ... more Abstract In this work we present the analysis of the micro-structural features of ancient Indian blades carried out by neutron tomography and neutron diffraction. The results provide a clear identification of the different types of steel used to produce such weapons. Among them, only a small proportion of the large number of swords produced in India were made of hypereutectoid patterned steel, namely wootz , also (misleadingly) known as “Damascus steel”. The results permitted us to determine the spatial distribution of the iron and steel components inside the swords and the size and orientation of the microstructure of the ferrite and cementite grains in the wootz steel. These results are an important step forward towards the comprehension of the metal preparation and the forging procedure to produce swords made of wootz steel. These results are further proof of the validity of the use of neutron techniques as a non-destructive scientific analytical tool for quantitative authentication and characterization of ancient metal artefacts.
A mapping measurement using pulsed neutron diffraction with time-of-flight method is performed on... more A mapping measurement using pulsed neutron diffraction with time-of-flight method is performed on a full-shape Japanese sword made in Keicho era (1596-1615). The obtained diffraction patterns are analyzed by the Rietveld refinement and a line profile analysis. The constituent phases in the area closer to the back of the blade (ridge) are found to be ferrite and cementite, composing pearlite, while the area close to the edge is composed by martensite and austenite. The distributions of constituent phases are well explained with the distributions of dislocation density and crystallite size. The residual macroscopic stresses are estimated from the obtained lattice parameters of constituent phases. The distributions of residual macroscopic stresses in the width and thickness directions are small. The stress in the longitudinal direction is compressive at the ridge side, turns to quite large tensile at the middle part of width, then drastically decreases to be quite large compressive at the edge side of about -650 MPa. The carbon content in the area closer to the ridge side is high, about 0.9 mass%, expecting that the Japanese sword used in this study was created by the technique of maru, i.e., the use of a single type of high-carbon steel for the whole volume.
Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), bo... more Detectors are a key feature of the contemporary scientific approach to cultural heritage (CH), both for diagnostics and conservation. INFN-CHNet is the network of the Italian National Institute of Nuclear Physics that develops and applies new instrumentation for the study of CH. This process results in both optimized traditional state-of-the-art and highly innovative detection setups for spectrometric techniques. Examples of the former are X-rays, gamma-rays, visible-light and particles spectrometers tailored for CH applications, with optimized performances, reliability, weight, transportability, cost, absorbed power, and complementarity with other techniques. Regarding the latter, examples are ARDESIA, the array of detectors at the DAΦNE-Light facility, the MAXRS detection setup at the Riken-RAL muon beamline and the imaging facilities at the LENA Laboratory. Paths for next-generation instruments have been suggested, as in the case of the X-ray Superconductive Detectors and X-ray M...
A calculation of the rotational S_0(0) frequencies in high pressure solid para-hydrogen is perfor... more A calculation of the rotational S_0(0) frequencies in high pressure solid para-hydrogen is performed. Convergence of the perturbative series at high density is demonstrated by the calculation of second and third order terms. The results of the theory are compared with the available experimental data to derive the density behaviour of structural parameters. In particular, a strong increase of the value of the lattice constant ratio c/a and of the internuclear distance is determined. Also a decrease of the anisotropic intermolecular potential is observed which is attributed to charge transfer effects. The structural parameters determined at the phase transition may be used to calculate quantum properties of the rotationally ordered phase.
This paper reports the analysis of a single crystal copper rod aiming to characterize the microst... more This paper reports the analysis of a single crystal copper rod aiming to characterize the microstructural features related to the homogeneity of the single crystal growth and the presence, shape and extension of spatially distributed misaligned grains or areas. The analytical method used for such analysis is wavelength scan neutron radiography and monochromatic neutron tomography. Such methods allow determination of the extent of differently oriented single crystal areas, identifying the most part of the rod volume as a single domain. It was also possible to characterize the spatial distribution and the degree of alignment of local point-like or extended defects.
Gepulstes Neutronen-Transmissions-Imaging ist eine einzigartige Methode, die ortsaufgeloste Infor... more Gepulstes Neutronen-Transmissions-Imaging ist eine einzigartige Methode, die ortsaufgeloste Information zu physikalischen Eigenschaften von Materialien geben kann, wie z. B. kristallographische Charakteristika, Elemente, magnetische Felder usw. Diese Daten erhalt man, indem die Transmissionsspektren in Abhangigkeit von der Neutronenwellenlange in jedem Pixel eines zweidimensional ortsauflosenden Detektors untersucht werden. Wir haben diese Methode auf Proben des kulturellen Erbes angewandt und zwar auf japanische Schwerter. Drei dieser Proben waren Fragmente von Schwertern mit verschiedenen Flachen und unterschiedlichem Alter, die vierte war ein Schwert von voller Grose. Wir fanden in den Fragmentproben Unterschiede in der Textur und in der Grose der Kristallite, und der gequenchte Bereich lies sich im Schwert von voller Grose klar nachweisen. Weiterhin wurde eine chinesische Munze untersucht und die wichtigsten Elemente und Unterschiede in den kristallographischen Charakteristika i...
A large amount of iron and steel artifacts produced in the central European area between 2nd and ... more A large amount of iron and steel artifacts produced in the central European area between 2nd and 14th Centuries is constituted by pattern welded iron-phosphoric iron and steel components. Phosphoric iron is a substitutional alloy, which is obtained by using iron ore from swamps in which decomposition of dead organisms enriches the iron rich soil with phosphorous. The identification of phosphoric iron alloy in ancient artifacts is important for determining their place of origin, production procedure and technological characteristics. A well-established technique for investigating the bulk structure of ancient metallographic artifacts is neutron tomography, using cold neutrons. It provides image-data capable of enhancing differences between phosphorous rich iron and the standard iron areas. However, neutron imaging is costly and complex to implement. Therefore, the exploration of new techniques capable of providing additional data on the nature of alloys would be highly needed. A pilo...
Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali, 2021
In this paper, we have studied an additively manufactured metallic component, intended for ultra-... more In this paper, we have studied an additively manufactured metallic component, intended for ultra-high vacuum application, the exit-snout of the MACHINA transportable proton accelerator beam-line. Metal additive manufacturing components can exhibit heterogeneous and anisotropic microstructures. Two non-destructive imaging techniques, X-ray computed tomography and Neutron Tomography, were employed to examine its microstructure. They unveiled the presence of porosity and channels, the size and composition of grains and intergranular precipitates, and the general behavior of the spatial distribution of the solidification lines. While X-ray computed tomography evidenced qualitative details about the surface roughness and internal defects, neutron tomography showed excellent ability in imaging the spatial density distribution within the component. The anisotropy of the density was attributed to the material building orientation during the 3D printing process. Density variations suggest th...
Abstract This is a continuation study that aims to investigate the structural features of arms an... more Abstract This is a continuation study that aims to investigate the structural features of arms and armour allegedly made of wootz, a form of pattered crucible steel first developed in ancient Southern India and already reported in the historical record around 300 BCE. Since artefacts made of wootz steel were highly priced for their superior mechanical and esthetical features, expedients to recreate the typical “watered silk” surface of wootz steel soon developed. In order to discern genuine from imitations, a non-invasive analytical approached based on neutron imaging methods was applied on a set of artefacts selected by the conservation department of the Wallace Collection. Polychromatic and monochromatic imaging methods were successfully applied to determine the structural properties of the samples related to the actual manufacturing process used to obtain the surface pattern.
A synergic combination of neutron techniques was applied to characterize non-invasively the lamin... more A synergic combination of neutron techniques was applied to characterize non-invasively the laminated structure of a set of ancient katana, part of the East Asian Collection of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences (MAAS) in Sydney. Neutron tomography, diffraction, residual stress and Bragg-edge transmission analyses were undertaken on samples of well-known origin, time period and authorship to create a reference database on the main manufacturing methods developed by Japanese swordsmiths. In the attempt to attribute mumei (no-signature) blades basing on a scientific analytical method rather than a stylistic analysis, data from the reference samples were benchmarked against the results obtained from the unknown blade to identify differences and commonalities in the production process.
Abstract In this work we present the analysis of the micro-structural features of ancient Indian ... more Abstract In this work we present the analysis of the micro-structural features of ancient Indian blades carried out by neutron tomography and neutron diffraction. The results provide a clear identification of the different types of steel used to produce such weapons. Among them, only a small proportion of the large number of swords produced in India were made of hypereutectoid patterned steel, namely wootz , also (misleadingly) known as “Damascus steel”. The results permitted us to determine the spatial distribution of the iron and steel components inside the swords and the size and orientation of the microstructure of the ferrite and cementite grains in the wootz steel. These results are an important step forward towards the comprehension of the metal preparation and the forging procedure to produce swords made of wootz steel. These results are further proof of the validity of the use of neutron techniques as a non-destructive scientific analytical tool for quantitative authentication and characterization of ancient metal artefacts.
A mapping measurement using pulsed neutron diffraction with time-of-flight method is performed on... more A mapping measurement using pulsed neutron diffraction with time-of-flight method is performed on a full-shape Japanese sword made in Keicho era (1596-1615). The obtained diffraction patterns are analyzed by the Rietveld refinement and a line profile analysis. The constituent phases in the area closer to the back of the blade (ridge) are found to be ferrite and cementite, composing pearlite, while the area close to the edge is composed by martensite and austenite. The distributions of constituent phases are well explained with the distributions of dislocation density and crystallite size. The residual macroscopic stresses are estimated from the obtained lattice parameters of constituent phases. The distributions of residual macroscopic stresses in the width and thickness directions are small. The stress in the longitudinal direction is compressive at the ridge side, turns to quite large tensile at the middle part of width, then drastically decreases to be quite large compressive at the edge side of about -650 MPa. The carbon content in the area closer to the ridge side is high, about 0.9 mass%, expecting that the Japanese sword used in this study was created by the technique of maru, i.e., the use of a single type of high-carbon steel for the whole volume.
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