The module "Introduzione alla spettroscopia neutronica" presents basic concepts and information for the application of neutron techniques to the characterization and diagnostics of materials and artifacts of interest in archaeometrics.
The module “Applicazioni di imaging e diffrazione di neutroni” presents the principles of the experimental techniques and the basic concepts to interpret the results in historical metallurgy.
There are no textbooks on the subjects covered by the module "Introduzione alla spettroscopia neutronica". Standard textbooks are of specialized level by far too high both for the likely students' expertise and for the goals of the module. Besides the slides used in lectures, english texts of appropriate level will be made available to the students. These texts are typically used as teaching material in introductory specialized schools at the beginner's level.
Useful text books (some of them can be found as free e-book) for the module “Applicazioni di imaging e diffrazione di neutroni” are the following:
Ian S. Anderson, Robert L. McGreevy, Hassina Z. Bilheux, Neutron Imaging and Applications, A Reference for the Imaging Community, Springer
Nikolay Kardjilov, Giulia Festa, Neutron Methods for Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, Springer
David A. Scott, Metallography and Microstructure of Ancient and Historic Metals, Getty Conservation Institute.
Learning Objectives
The goals of the module "Introduzione alla spettroscopia neutronica" are:
(1) making students able to understand the potentialities and the simplest typical applications of neutron techniques in the field of the study and conservation of cultural heritage artifacts;
(2) providing basic concepts for the quantitative understanding of such techniques and of their results.
The goals of the module "Applicazioni di imaging e diffrazione di neutroni" are:
(1) making students able to understand the general principles about how the imaging and diffraction techniques work and, at a higher level of knowledge, about the use of neutrons as analytical probe in such applications;
(2) providing basic concepts on physical metallurgy to be able to comprehend the meaning of neutron imaging and neutron diffraction data on metal samples of qrchaeometric interest.
Prerequisites
There are no special requisites for the modules "Introduzione alla spettroscopia neutronica" and "Applicazioni di imaging e diffrazione di neutroni" because it is assumed that students have no previous knowledge of the subject. The programme of the course introduces all the elements as long as they are required for the comprehension. However, it is assumed that students are able to handle elementary algebra and are familiar with the basic concepts of calculus (derivative, integral) at the level of secondary school last-year programmes.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures, including some simple exercises.
Type of Assessment
Oral examinations.
Parameters relevant for the evaluation are the degree of learning of the course materials, the quality of presentation, the degree of relationship between questions and answers, and the ability of connecting various concepts through a clear reasoning.
Course program
The programme of the module "Introduzione alla spettroscopia neutronica" covers the following subjects:
Scattering as a microscopic probe
Waves and wave properties of matter
Units
Interference and atomic structures
Energy and momentum in neutron scattering
Neutrons as an effective probe at the microscopic scale
Cross sections
Coeherent and incoherent neutron scattering
Neutron sources
Moderation of neutrons
Neutron guides
Attenuation
Neutron detectors
Neutron counting
Experimental errors
Neutron diffraction by crystals
Rector-source diffractometers
Pulsed-source diffractometers
Microscopic structure of disordered systems
Basics on Fourier transformations
Static structure factor
The program of the module "Applicazioni di imaging e diffrazione di neutroni" dels with the following topics:
Introduction to the module
Introduction to physical metallurgy
Properties of metals
Conductivity
Crystal structures
Elastic and plastic deformatione
Mechanisms of hardening
Metals, composites and alloys
Substitutional and interstitial alloys
Intermetallic compounds
Binary phase diagrams
Solidification in pure metals
Solidification in the alloys
Le dendrites
Thermal treatments
The beginning of use of metals and alloys
Copper and its alloys
Copper based minerals
Copper reduction and mineralization
Arsenic bronze
Bronze
Brass
Lead in copper alloys
Iron
Iron based minerals
Iron reduction and mineralization
The reduction process
Working techniques in iron
Iron carbon phase diagram
Steel
Martensitic transition in steel
ThermaI treatments in steel
Working techniques in metals and their effects on microstructure
Basics in metallographic analysis
General principles on radiographic method
Instrumental elements of a radiographic system
Spatial resolution
Probe’s penetrating depth
Attenuation law
Elements of digital imaging
Image normalization
Brightness and contrast
Tomography
Projections, sinograms and slices
X-ray radiography
Neutron radiography
Instruments for neutron radiography: components and characteristics
Experimental determination of spatial resolution
Thermal and cold neutrons: a comparison
How to perform a neutron imaging experiment
Selection of the instrument
Examples of neutron radiography
Introduction to crystallography
Relationship between crystallography and diffraction
Invariatn transformations
Periodicity and translation
Spatial symmetry elements (rotation, mirror e inversion)
Symmetry operators
Punctual transformations
Composite transformations
Names and symbols
Crystallinestructure: base and lattice
Unit cell
Multiplicity and fraction coordinates
The 7 crystal systems
The 14 Bravais lattice
The arrangement of lattice points
Miller planes
The connection between lattice planes and diffraction
The 230 spatial groups
Examples of diagrams of spatial groups
Elements to define a crystalline structure
Reciprocal lattice
Diffraction condition in real space
Diffraction condition in reciprocal space
Indexing diffractionp peak
Extinction rules
Bragg intensity
Structure factor intensity
Comparison between neutron and X-ray diffraction
Powder diffraction and Rietveld refinement
Peak profiles
Diffraction peak broadening
How to perform an experiment
Selection of the right instrument
Multiphase analysis
Compositional analysis of metal alloys
Residual stress analysis
Peak shape analysis
Anisotropy analysis: texture and pole figures
Diffraction of copper and its alloys
Data interpretation
Diffraction of iron and steel
Data interpretation
Case studies