Neutron detector using neutron absorbing scintillating particulates in plastic
First Claim
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1. A neutron detector comprising:
- a glass medium;
a first material which yields at least one of a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment when said first material absorbs a neutron, said first material being incorporated into said glass medium;
a second material embedded within said glass medium, said second material consisting of scintillating particles which scintillate when traversed by said at least one of a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment, said second material being defined by small particulates such that said glass medium surrounding said small particulates when emitting charged particles from the constituent within said glass medium is thin relative to a range of said charged particles;
a transparent plastic into which said glass medium, said first material and said second material are dispersed; and
a surface coating disposed on said transparent plastic for reflecting scintillation light pulses.
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Abstract
A neutron detector composed of a matrix of scintillating particles imbedded in a lithiated glass is disclosed. The neutron detector detects the neutrons by absorbing the neutron in the 6Li isotope which has been enriched from the natural isotopic ratio to a commercial ninety five percent. The utility of the detector is optimized by suitably selecting scintillating particle sizes in the range of the alpha and the triton. Nominal particle sizes are in the range of five to twenty five microns depending upon the specific scintillating particle selected.
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24 Claims
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1. A neutron detector comprising:
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a glass medium;
a first material which yields at least one of a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment when said first material absorbs a neutron, said first material being incorporated into said glass medium;
a second material embedded within said glass medium, said second material consisting of scintillating particles which scintillate when traversed by said at least one of a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment, said second material being defined by small particulates such that said glass medium surrounding said small particulates when emitting charged particles from the constituent within said glass medium is thin relative to a range of said charged particles;
a transparent plastic into which said glass medium, said first material and said second material are dispersed; and
a surface coating disposed on said transparent plastic for reflecting scintillation light pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification