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Title: Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons

Patent ·
OSTI ID:871200
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [3]
  1. Richland, WA
  2. Benton City, WA
  3. Orangevale, CA
+ Show Author Affiliations

The instant invention is a method for making and using an apparatus for detecting neutrons. Scintillating optical fibers are fabricated by melting SiO.sub.2 with a thermal neutron capturing substance and a scintillating material in a reducing atmosphere. The melt is then drawn into fibers in an anoxic atmosphere. The fibers may then be coated and used directly in a neutron detection apparatus, or assembled into a geometrical array in a second, hydrogen-rich, scintillating material such as a polymer. Photons generated by interaction with thermal neutrons are trapped within the coated fibers and are directed to photoelectric converters. A measurable electronic signal is generated for each thermal neutron interaction within the fiber. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation. When the fibers are arranged in an array within a second scintillating material, photons generated by kinetic neutrons interacting with the second scintillating material and photons generated by thermal neutron capture within the fiber can both be directed to photoelectric converters. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation.

Research Organization:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC06-76RL01830
Assignee:
Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5680423
OSTI ID:
871200
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

The physics and structure-property relationships of scintillator materials: effect of thermal history and chemistry on the light output of scintillating glasses
  • Bliss, M.; Craig, R. A.; Reeder, P. L.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 342, Issue 2-3 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(94)90263-1
journal March 1994
Method for measuring the light output of scintillating glass shards
  • Bliss, M.; Craig, R. A.; Reeder, P. L.
  • Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 345, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-9002(94)90975-X
journal June 1994

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Related Subjects

method
apparatus
detecting
neutrons
instant
scintillating
optical
fibers
fabricated
melting
sio
thermal
neutron
capturing
substance
material
reducing
atmosphere
melt
drawn
anoxic
coated
directly
detection
assembled
geometrical
array
hydrogen-rich
polymer
photons
generated
interaction
trapped
directed
photoelectric
converters
measurable
electronic
signal
fiber
signals
manipulated
stored
interpreted
normal
methods
infer
quality
quantity
incident
radiation
arranged
kinetic
interacting
capture
scintillating material
coated fibers
neutron detection
detecting neutrons
incident radiation
detection apparatus
thermal neutron
reducing atmosphere
optical fibers
optical fiber
neutron capture
thermal neutrons
electronic signal
electric converter
electronic signals
coated fiber
detecting neutron
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