Numerical Simulations of Pillar Structured Solid State Thermal Neutron Detector Efficiency and Gamma Discrimination

Journal Article · Tue Jun 24 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 56, no. 5, October 1, 2009, pp. 2802

OSTI ID:966582

Conway, A; Wang, T; Deo, N; Cheung, C; Nikolic, R

This work reports numerical simulations of a novel three-dimensionally integrated, {sup 10}boron ({sup 10}B) and silicon p+, intrinsic, n+ (PIN) diode micropillar array for thermal neutron detection. The inter-digitated device structure has a high probability of interaction between the Si PIN pillars and the charged particles (alpha and {sup 7}Li) created from the neutron - {sup 10}B reaction. In this work, the effect of both the 3-D geometry (including pillar diameter, separation and height) and energy loss mechanisms are investigated via simulations to predict the neutron detection efficiency and gamma discrimination of this structure. The simulation results are demonstrated to compare well with the measurement results. This indicates that upon scaling the pillar height, a high efficiency thermal neutron detector is possible.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 966582
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-405025; TRN: US0904068
• Journal Information: Transactions on Nuclear Science, vol. 56, no. 5, October 1, 2009, pp. 2802, Vol. 56, Issue 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
42 ENGINEERING
22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DETECTION
EFFICIENCY
GEOMETRY
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRONS
PROBABILITY
SILICON
SIMULATION
THERMAL NEUTRONS