Nuclear scattering radiography of heavy materials

Nuclear scattering radiography is a technique which allows one to obtain three-dimensional radiographs directly. It is well adapted to the study of heavy materials because the absorption coefficient of the high-energy protons used as a testing beam is small. Results obtained from 50-mm thick copper and uranium targets are given. They show that detection and precise three-dimensional localization of defects, some tenths of a millimeter wide, are obtained. Limits of the method are discussed.