NON-STREAMING HIGH-EFFICIENCY PERFORATED SEMICONDUCTOR NEUTRON DETECTORS, METHODS OF MAKING SAME AND MEASURING WAND AND DETECTOR MODULES UTILZING SAME
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for efficiently detecting neutrons, the apparatus comprising:
- a particle-detecting first substrate having top and back surfaces and including an array of sinuous fins spaced apart by a corresponding array of sinuous channels at the top surface; and
neutron-responsive material disposed in the array of sinuous channels, the material being responsive to neutrons absorbed thereby for releasing ionizing radiation reaction products wherein the sinuous shape of the fins and channels strengthens the fins and reduces neutron streaming effects whereby the apparatus has a relatively flat and uniform detection efficiency response.
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Abstract
Non-streaming high-efficiency perforated semiconductor neutron detectors, method of making same and measuring wands and detector modules utilizing same are disclosed. The detectors have improved mechanical structure, flattened angular detector responses, and reduced leakage current. A plurality of such detectors can be assembled into imaging arrays, and can be used for neutron radiography, remote neutron sensing, cold neutron imaging, SNM monitoring, and various other applications.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for efficiently detecting neutrons, the apparatus comprising:
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a particle-detecting first substrate having top and back surfaces and including an array of sinuous fins spaced apart by a corresponding array of sinuous channels at the top surface; and neutron-responsive material disposed in the array of sinuous channels, the material being responsive to neutrons absorbed thereby for releasing ionizing radiation reaction products wherein the sinuous shape of the fins and channels strengthens the fins and reduces neutron streaming effects whereby the apparatus has a relatively flat and uniform detection efficiency response. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for filling perforations which extend into a particle-detecting semiconductor substrate from a top portion of the substrate towards a back portion of the substrate with a neutron-responsive material to form a neutron detector, the method comprising:
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evaporating the neutron-responsive material to obtain vaporized neutron-responsive material; establishing a temperature gradient across the substrate so that the top portion of the substrate is relatively warmer than the relatively cooler back portion of the substrate; and transporting the vaporized neutron-responsive material to the substrate so that the vaporized neutron-responsive material initially condenses at the relatively cool bottom portion of the substrate rather than the relatively warm top portion of the substrate, wherein the perforations of the substrate are filled from the bottom portion of the substrate up to the top portion of the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A measuring wand comprising:
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an elongated housing; and an apparatus for efficiently detecting neutrons mounted within the housing, the apparatus including; a particle-detecting substrate having top and back surfaces and including an array of sinuous fins spaced apart by a corresponding array of sinuous channels at the top surface; and neutron-responsive material disposed in the array of sinuous channels, the material being responsive to neutrons absorbed thereby for releasing ionizing radiation reaction products wherein the sinuous shape of the fins and channels strengthens the fins and reduces neutron streaming effects whereby the apparatus has a relatively flat and uniform detection efficiency response. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A detector module for remote neutron sensing, the module comprising:
first apparatus for efficiently detecting neutrons, the apparatus including; a particle-detecting substrate having top and back surfaces and including an array of sinuous fins spaced apart by a corresponding array of sinuous channels at the top surface; and neutron-responsive material disposed in the array of sinuous channels, the material being responsive to neutrons absorbed thereby for releasing ionizing radiation reaction products wherein the sinuous shape of the fins and channels strengthens the fins and reduces neutron streaming effects whereby the apparatus has a relatively flat and uniform detection efficiency response; and means coupled to the first apparatus for determining a radiation unit of measure detected by the first apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
Specification