(B4C)-B-10 Multi-Grid as an Alternative to He-3 for Large Area Neutron Detectors
Author
Summary, in English
Despite its present shortage, He-3 continues to be the most common neutron converter for detectors in neutron scattering science. However, it is obvious that the development of large area neutron detectors based on alternative neutron converters is rapidly becoming a matter of urgency. In the technique presented here, grids each comprising 28 (B4C)-B-10 layers ( each 1 mu m thick) are used to convert neutrons into ionizing particles which are subsequently detected in proportional gas counters. The total active area of the prototype is 8 cm x 200 cm. To instrument this detector 4.6 m(2) of B-10-enriched boron carbide were coated onto aluminium blades using a DC magnetron sputtering machine. Characterization of the prototype showed neutron efficiency to be epsilon(n) = 46.8% for 2.5 angstrom neutrons, which is in line with expectations from MC simulation. This result demonstrates the potential of this technique as alternative to He-3-based position sensitive detectors.
Department/s
Publishing year
2013
Language
English
Pages
871-878
Publication/Series
IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume
60
Issue
2
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Topic
- Physical Sciences
- Natural Sciences
Keywords
- Boron-lined detector
- multi-grid neutron detector
- He-3 crisis
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0018-9499