Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera
Abstract
An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of neutron detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned either much closer together or further apart. However, by doubling the separation distance between the 2 planes from 20 cm to a distance of 40 cm we improved the angular resolution of the detector from about 12.degree. to about 10.degree.. A further doubling of the separation distance to 80 cm provided an addition improvement in angular resolution of the detector to about 6.degree. without adding additional detectors or ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration, therefore, is increased at the expanse of detection sensitivity. However, the diminished sensitivity may be acceptable for those applications where the detector is able tomore »
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1082134
- Patent Number(s):
- 8338795
- Application Number:
- 12/872,700
- Assignee:
- Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01V - GEOPHYSICS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
Citation Formats
Mascarenhas, Nicholas, Marleau, Peter, Gerling, Mark, Cooper, Robert Lee, Mrowka, Stanley, and Brennan, James S. Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera. United States: N. p., 2012.
Web.
Mascarenhas, Nicholas, Marleau, Peter, Gerling, Mark, Cooper, Robert Lee, Mrowka, Stanley, & Brennan, James S. Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera. United States.
Mascarenhas, Nicholas, Marleau, Peter, Gerling, Mark, Cooper, Robert Lee, Mrowka, Stanley, and Brennan, James S. Tue .
"Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1082134.
@article{osti_1082134,
title = {Method for improving the angular resolution of a neutron scatter camera},
author = {Mascarenhas, Nicholas and Marleau, Peter and Gerling, Mark and Cooper, Robert Lee and Mrowka, Stanley and Brennan, James S.},
abstractNote = {An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of neutron detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned either much closer together or further apart. However, by doubling the separation distance between the 2 planes from 20 cm to a distance of 40 cm we improved the angular resolution of the detector from about 12.degree. to about 10.degree.. A further doubling of the separation distance to 80 cm provided an addition improvement in angular resolution of the detector to about 6.degree. without adding additional detectors or ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration, therefore, is increased at the expanse of detection sensitivity. However, the diminished sensitivity may be acceptable for those applications where the detector is able to interrogate a particular site for an extended period.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 EST 2012},
month = {Tue Dec 25 00:00:00 EST 2012}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Calibration and testing of a large-area fast-neutron directional detector
conference, October 2007
- Vanier, Peter E.; Forman, Leon; Dioszegi, Istvan
- 2007 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium Conference Record