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 on the outside of said dielectric body to create an electric field across said gas volume, where the peak voltage drop across said interior volume of said hollow dielectric body is at least 70% of the bias voltage applied between said electrodes, so that an electrical pulse may 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 on the outside of said dielectric body to create an electric field across said gas volume, where the peak voltage drop across said interior volume of said hollow dielectric body is at least 70% of the bias voltage applied between said electrodes, so that an electrical pulse may 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, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for detecting neutrons comprising:
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a plurality of neutron sensors comprising hollow dielectric bodies having a bulk resistivity in the range from about 108 to about 1017 Ω
-m, said dielectric bodies filled to a selected pressure with a gas capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron;electrodes disposed on the external surfaces of said dielectric bodies and configured to establish an electric field within the interior volumes of said dielectric bodies, where the peak voltage drop across the interior volume of each of said sensors is at least 70% of the bias voltage applied between the electrodes, so that an electrical pulse may be collected in response to said ionization produced by an interaction of said neutron; a volume of moderator material in which said neutron sensors are placed, said moderator material having a front surface, wherein some of said neutron sensors are placed closer to said front surface than are others; and a detection circuit connected to said electrodes, said detection circuit capable of detecting said electrical pulse. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of making a neutron detector comprising the steps of:
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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/cmHg;forming said glass into a hollow body having a selected interior dimension from about 0.1 to about 30 mm and a wall thickness from about 10 μ
m to about 5 mm, wherein the ratio of said wall thickness to said interior dimension is between 0.02 and 0.2;filling said body with a gas composition at a selected pressure, said gas composition capable of at least partial ionization by a neutron; sealing said body to retain said gas; and
,applying two electrodes on opposite sides, respectively, of said hollow glass body, said electrodes configured to apply a selected bias voltage to said hollow glass body, wherein the peak voltage drop across said selected interior dimension of said hollow body is at least 70% of said selected bias voltage. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification