Introduction to neutron techniques for cultural heritage

Abstract

Since the early 2000s, neutron techniques have become available for the non-invasive characterisation of cultural heritage artefacts, especially those made of metal, ceramic or stone. This is thanks to the ability of neutrons to penetrate deeply into objects, to study their inner volume non-invasively. The neutron methods available can efficiently provide information on the composition and micro-structural properties of materials, along with 2D and 3D images of an artefact's internal structure, helping to answer questions related to manufacturing processes, state of degradation, authenticity and provenance. This Technical Brief presents an overview of the main neutron-based methods and the different types of neutrons suitable for the characterisation of materials of interest in cultural heritage and includes case studies highlighting the impact of these applications in archaeological and historical research.