Low-energy neutron detector based upon lithium lanthanide borate scintillators

Patent · 01 January 1998

OSTI ID:871450

Czirr, John B ^[1]

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1. Mapleton, UT

An apparatus for detecting neutrons includes a cerium activated scintillation crystal containing .sup.10 B, with the scintillation crystal emitting light in response to .alpha. particles emitted from the .sup.10 B(n,.alpha.)Li* reaction. The apparatus also includes a gamma scintillator positioned adjacent the crystal and which generates light in response to gamma rays emitted from the decay of Li*. The apparatus further includes a first and a second light-to-electronic signal converter each positioned to respectively receive light from the crystal and the gamma scintillator, and each respectively outputting first and second electronic signals representative of .alpha. particles from the .sup.10 B(n,.alpha.)Li* reaction and gamma rays from the .sup.10 B(n,.alpha.)Li* reaction. The apparatus includes a coincidence circuit connected to receive the first and second signals and which generates a coincidence signal when the first and second signals coincide. The apparatus also includes a data analyzer for receiving an additional signal from at least one of the first and second converters, and for operating in response to the coincidence signal.

• Research Organization: Mission Support Incorporated (Salt Lake City, UT)
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-95ER82032
• Assignee: Mission Support Incorporated (Salt Lake City, UT)
• Patent Number(s): US 5734166
• OSTI ID: 871450
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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10
activated
additional
adjacent
alpha
analyzer
apparatus
based
borate
cerium
circuit
circuit connected
coincide
coincidence
connected
containing
converter
converters
crystal
crystal containing
data
decay
detecting
detecting neutron
detecting neutrons
detector
detector based
electronic
electronic signal
electronic signals
emitted
emitting
emitting light
energy neutron
gamma
gamma ray
gamma rays
generates
lanthanide
light
light-to-electronic
lithium
low-energy
neutron
neutron detector
neutrons
operating
outputting
particles
particles emitted
positioned
positioned adjacent
rays
rays emitted
reaction
receive
receive light
receiving
representative
respectively
response
scintillation
scintillation crystal
scintillator
scintillators
signal
signals
signals representative