Neutron/X-ray Dual-Modality Imaging at ERNI: A Case Study on Cultured Pearls

摘要: X-ray and neutron computed tomography (CT) are widely used for non-destructive characterization of internal structures. Their distinct contrast mechanisms, arised from different interactions with matter, can enhance structural analysis when combined. Dual-modality imaging integrating both techniques can overcome the limitations of single-modality approaches. In this study, we performed X-ray and neutron CT experiments on cultured pearl samples using the Energy-Resolved Neutron Imaging (ERNI) instrument at the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). A multi-step registration pipeline based on edge extraction and rigid 3D transformation was developed to align and fuse the datasets. The results demonstrate the potential of dual-modality imaging for enhanced structural visualization of materials with complex internal structures