Gas avalanche neutron detector

摘要

A gas avalanche neutron detector (GAND) filled with counting gas for detecting thermal neutrons or neutron radiation without the use of a conventional proportional counter is provided. The GAND may include a layer of thermalization material, a cathode having a face with a layer of material, exhibiting neutron capture followed by charged particle emission such as Boron-10, a microstructure amplifier, and an anode. Thermal neutrons may enter the detector and interact with the material on the face of the cathode producing alpha particles. The alpha particles may ionize the counting gas inside the detector and produce ionization electrons. The cathode, microstructure amplifier and anode may have voltages applied that create electric fields that cause the ionization electrons to drift toward the microstructure amplifier. The microstructure then accelerates the electrons causing an avalanche effect within the gas and provides an amplification of the signal dramatically increasing neutron detection sensitivity.

主权项

1. A fast neutron detector comprising:
a moderator adapted to convert at least some incident fast neutrons passing through the moderator from an exterior of the detector into thermal neutrons within an interior of the detector; a cathode positioned to receive the thermal neutrons and having a face including a material exhibiting thermal neutron capture followed by charged particle emission; a microstructure amplifier positioned to receive charged particles from the cathode and configured to produce an avalanche of electrons in response to the charged particles; and an anode positioned to receive the avalanche of electrons from the cathode to provide for detection of the at least some incident fast neutrons; wherein the anode, the cathode and the microstructure amplifier are immersed in a counting gas so that the microstructure amplifier does not operate in vacuum.