The Ancient Charm Project: New neutron based imaging methods for

In the last decade Neutrons became a valuable tool to investigate non-destructively the inside of objects with cultural heritage importance. In contrast to X-ray or proton methods, neutron based methods combine a high sensitivity and high penetration depth. The goal of the European ANCIENT CHARM2 project [1] is the development of existing non-destructive methods for the bulk analysis of samples into imaging methods, as well as the investigation of new neutron based techniques for 3D elemental mapping. The results obtained with these novel methods should help answering questions about the manufacturing process of the investigated objects, as well as giving informations for choosing the best conservation and restoration techniques. Here we will present an overview of the concepts of these new methods and first results. Neutron based methods for the bulk analysis of objects from multiple fields of research are well established and in common use. E.g. Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis (PGAA) [2] is a method utilizing the immediate gamma-ray radiation that is produced when an object is placed into a cold neutron beam, whilst Neutron Resonant Capture Analysis (NRCA) [3] uses gamma radiation from resonances in the absorption spectra of epithermal, i.e. higher energetic, neutrons. For most valuable results it is desirable not only to have information of the bulk properties of the investigated objects but also to get informations about the spatial distribution of these properties. For this reason the European ANCIEN