Ion chamber based neutron detectors

Title: Ion chamber based neutron detectors

A neutron detector with monolithically integrated readout circuitry, including: a bonded semiconductor die; an ion chamber formed in the bonded semiconductor die; a first electrode and a second electrode formed in the ion chamber; a neutron absorbing material filling the ion chamber; and the readout circuitry which is electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes. The bonded semiconductor die includes an etched semiconductor substrate bonded to an active semiconductor substrate. The readout circuitry is formed in a portion of the active semiconductor substrate. The ion chamber has a substantially planar first surface on which the first electrode is formed and a substantially planar second surface, parallel to the first surface, on which the second electrode is formed. The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode may be equal to or less than the 50% attenuation length for neutrons in the neutron absorbing material filling the ion chamber.

Inventors:: Derzon, Mark S; Galambos, Paul C; Renzi, Ronald F

Issue Date:: 2014-12-16

OSTI Identifier:: 1165430

Assignee:: Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM) SSO

Patent Number(s):: 8,912,502

Application Number:: 13/559,370

Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000

Resource Relation:: Patent File Date: 2012 Jul 26

Research Org:: Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org:: USDOE

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE

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Other works cited in this record:

Radiation-detection/scintillator composite and method of manufacture
patent, January 1989

Henderson, Timothy; Knoll, Glenn
US Patent Document 4,795,910
URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F4795910

Gamma resistant dual range neutron detector
patent-application, November 2003

Menlove, Howard O.; Johnson, Nathan H.; Beddingfield, David H.
US Patent Document 10/147854; 20030213917
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Micro neutron detectors
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McGregor, Douglas S.; Ohmes, Martin F.; Shultis, John K.
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URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220070018110%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20070018110&RS=DN/20070018110

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