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Title: Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector

Abstract

A double-helix Boron-10 powder detector having intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency comparable to 36'' long, 2-in diameter, 2-bar Helium-3 detectors, and which can be used to replace such detectors for use in portal monitoring, is described. An embodiment of the detector includes a metallic plate coated with Boron-10 powder for generating alpha and Lithium-7 particles responsive to neutrons impinging thereon supported by insulators affixed to at least two opposing edges; a grounded first wire wound in a helical manner around two opposing insulators; and a second wire having a smaller diameter than that of the first wire, wound in a helical manner around the same insulators and spaced apart from the first wire, the second wire being positively biased. A gas, disposed within a gas-tight container enclosing the plate, insulators and wires, and capable of stopping alpha and Lithium-7 particles and generating electrons produces a signal on the second wire which is detected and subsequently related to the number of neutrons impinging on the plate.

Inventors:
; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1183351
Patent Number(s):
9,046,612
Application Number:
13/796,597
Assignee:
Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
DOE Contract Number:  
AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

Citation Formats

Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., and Bacon, Jeffrey D. Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector. United States: N. p., 2015. Web.
Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., & Bacon, Jeffrey D. Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector. United States.
Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., and Bacon, Jeffrey D. 2015. "Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1183351.
@article{osti_1183351,
title = {Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector},
author = {Wang, Zhehui and Morris, Christopher L. and Bacon, Jeffrey D.},
abstractNote = {A double-helix Boron-10 powder detector having intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency comparable to 36'' long, 2-in diameter, 2-bar Helium-3 detectors, and which can be used to replace such detectors for use in portal monitoring, is described. An embodiment of the detector includes a metallic plate coated with Boron-10 powder for generating alpha and Lithium-7 particles responsive to neutrons impinging thereon supported by insulators affixed to at least two opposing edges; a grounded first wire wound in a helical manner around two opposing insulators; and a second wire having a smaller diameter than that of the first wire, wound in a helical manner around the same insulators and spaced apart from the first wire, the second wire being positively biased. A gas, disposed within a gas-tight container enclosing the plate, insulators and wires, and capable of stopping alpha and Lithium-7 particles and generating electrons produces a signal on the second wire which is detected and subsequently related to the number of neutrons impinging on the plate.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1183351}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Tue Jun 02 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

Works referenced in this record:

Modular device for the detection of neutrons
patent, October 1976


Neutron detection based on coincidence signal
patent, October 2008


Neutron detectors comprising boron powder
patent, May 2013