Neutron detector
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
- a hollow dielectric body having a bulk resistivity in the range from about 108 to about 1017 Ω
-m, said body containing an interior volume of gas capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron;
two electrodes in contact respectively with opposite sides of said dielectric body, said electrodes configured to create an electric field across said gas volume, whereby an electrical pulse will be detectable by said electrodes when an ionization event occurs within said interior volume; and
,a detection circuit connected to said electrodes, said detection circuit capable of detecting said electrical pulse.
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Abstract
A neutron detector comprises a gas-filled dielectric shell, preferably a glass balloon, having opposite electrodes. An electric field is established whereby ionizing particles may be detected via ionization and current flow in the gas, using a pulse height analyzer or other conventional means. The dielectric shell preferably has low gas permeability and a bulk resistivity in the range of 108 to 1017 Ω-m, and is preferably in the millimeter to centimeter size range. Multiple balloons may be arranged in parallel or may be individually addressable by the detector electronics.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a hollow dielectric body having a bulk resistivity in the range from about 108 to about 1017 Ω
-m, said body containing an interior volume of gas capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron;two electrodes in contact respectively with opposite sides of said dielectric body, said electrodes configured to create an electric field across said gas volume, whereby an electrical pulse will be detectable by said electrodes when an ionization event occurs within said interior volume; and
,a detection circuit connected to said electrodes, said detection circuit capable of detecting said electrical pulse. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a substantially planar array of hollow dielectric shells, said shells filled with a gas capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron; electrodes disposed on opposite sides of said planar array in electrical contact with said hollow dielectric shells whereby an electrical pulse may be collected in response to the passage of said neutron; and
,a detection circuit connected to said electrodes, said detection circuit capable of detecting said electrical pulse. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of making a neutron detector comprising the steps of:
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a. formulating a glass composition having a bulk resistivity in the range of 108 to 1017 Ω
-m and a gas permeability constant for helium at room temperature of less than 7.6×
10−
11 cm3/sec/cm2/mm/cm·
Hg;b. forming said glass into a hollow body having an interior dimension from about 0.1 to about 30 mm and a wall thickness from about 10 μ
m to about 5 mm;c. filling said body with a gas composition capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron; d. sealing said body to retain said gas; and
,e. applying two electrodes on opposite sides, respectively, of said body. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a hollow dielectric body having a bulk resistivity in the range from about 108 to about 1017 Ω
-m, said body containing an interior volume of gas capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron;two electrodes disposed respectively on opposite sides of said dielectric body, said electrodes configured to create an electric field across said gas volume, said electric field being less than the field necessary to cause operation in a Geiger-Mueller mode, whereby an electrical pulse will be detectable by said electrodes when an ionization event occurs within said interior volume; and
,a detection circuit connected to said electrodes, said detection circuit capable of detecting said electrical pulse. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification