Thermal and fast neutron detection in chemical vapor deposition single-crystal diamond detectors

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2008 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2838208· OSTI ID:21133977

Almaviva, S; Marinelli, M; Milani, E; Prestopino, G; Tucciarone, A; Verona, C; Verona-Rinati, G ^[1]; Angelone, M; Lattanzi, D; Pillon, M ^[2]; Montereali, R M; Vincenti, M A ^[3]

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1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Universita di Roma 'Tor Vergata', Via del Politecnico 1, I-00133 Roma (Italy)
2. Associazione EURATOM-ENEA sulla Fusione, Via E. Fermi 45, I-00044 Frascati (Roma) (Italy)
3. ENEA-FIS C.R. Frascati, Via E. Fermi 45, I-00044 Frascati (Roma) (Italy)

Recently, a compact solid-state neutron detector capable of simultaneously detecting thermal and fast neutrons was proposed [M. Marinelli et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 143509 (2006)]. Its design is based on a p-type/intrinsic/metal layered structure obtained by Microwave Plasma Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) of homoepitaxial diamond followed by thermal evaporation of an Al contact and a {sup 6}LiF converting layer. Fast neutrons are directly detected in the CVD diamond bulk, since they have enough energy to produce the {sup 12}C(n,{alpha}){sup 9}Be reaction in diamond. Thermal neutrons are instead converted into charged particles in the {sup 6}LiF layer through the {sup 6}Li(n,{alpha})T nuclear reaction. These charged particles are then detected in the diamond layer. The thickness of the {sup 6}LiF converting layer and the CVD diamond sensing layer affect the counting efficiency and energy resolution of the detector both for low- (thermal) and high-energy neutrons. An analysis is carried out on the dynamics of the {sup 6}Li(n,{alpha})T and the {sup 12}C(n,{alpha}){sup 9}Be reactions products, and the distribution of the energy released inside the sensitive layer is calculated. The detector counting efficiency and energy resolution were accordingly derived as a function of the thickness of the {sup 6}LiF and CVD diamond layers, both for thermal and fast neutrons, thus allowing us to choose the optimum detector design for any particular application. Comparison with experimental results is also reported.

• OSTI ID: 21133977
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 103, Issue 5; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2838208; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ALPHA PARTICLES
ALUMINIUM
BERYLLIUM 9
CARBON 12 TARGET
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
DIAMONDS
ENERGY RESOLUTION
EVAPORATION
FAST NEUTRONS
LITHIUM 6 TARGET
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
MONOCRYSTALS
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NEUTRON REACTIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
THERMAL NEUTRONS