Neutron detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
- a volume of neutron moderating material; and
two pairs of independently readable neutron detecting elements disposed within said moderator volume, the first of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said selected outside surface of said moderator by no more than 2 g/cm2 areal density of said moderating material, and the second of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said selected outside surface of said moderator by a greater density of moderating material than separates said first pair from said first selected surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A neutron detector has a volume of neutron moderating material and a plurality of individual neutron sensing elements dispersed at selected locations throughout the moderator, and particularly arranged so that some of the detecting elements are closer to the surface of the moderator assembly and others are more deeply embedded. The arrangement captures some thermalized neutrons that might otherwise be scattered away from a single, centrally located detector element. Different geometrical arrangements may be used while preserving its fundamental characteristics. Different types of neutron sensing elements may be used, which may operate on any of a number of physical principles to perform the function of sensing a neutron, either by a capture or a scattering reaction, and converting that reaction to a detectable signal. High detection efficiency, an ability to acquire spectral information, and directional sensitivity may be obtained.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a volume of neutron moderating material; and two pairs of independently readable neutron detecting elements disposed within said moderator volume, the first of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said selected outside surface of said moderator by no more than 2 g/cm2 areal density of said moderating material, and the second of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said selected outside surface of said moderator by a greater density of moderating material than separates said first pair from said first selected surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a volume of neutron moderating material; and
,at least four independently readable neutron detecting elements disposed within said moderator volume, said four elements arranged to form three individually addressable pairs defining three non-parallel directions, wherein each of said three pairs is characterized by the property that each of the two respective detecting elements forming said pair return substantially equivalent neutron detection results when the apparatus is exposed to a neutron flux coming from one direction and said two detecting elements return substantially different neutron detection results when a neutron flux is applied from another direction. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for detecting neutrons comprising the steps of:
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forming a volume of neutron moderating material having a selected size and shape; and
,measuring the thermal neutron flux in at least two pairs of locations within said volume, the first of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said surface of said moderator by no more than 2 g/cm2 areal density of said moderating material, and the second of said pairs being equidistant from a selected outside surface of said moderator and separated from said outside surface of said moderator by a greater density of moderating material than separates said first pair from said outside surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification