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Title: Micro cavity fission chamber radiation detection system

Abstract

A radiation detector to monitor the neutron flux of a nuclear reactor or other high-radiation environment, that can withstand the high temperatures and radiation fields of such environment, is provided. A small dielectric substrate with a low neutron-activation cross section is provided. The substrate is coated with a neutron conversion material, such as uranium oxide or thorium oxide. One or more substrates form a micro-sized detection cavity that is filled with a detection gas. A voltage is provided across anode and cathode wires in the detection cavity. A neutron absorbed in the conversion material may release reaction products into the gas, causing ionization of the gas which then produces a current or voltage signal. The small detector volume minimizes energy deposition into the detection gas by competing particles such as gamma rays, fast electrons, and beta particles, and therefore minimizes false counts while retaining large signals from neutron interactions.

Inventors:
; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
US Dept. of Energy (USDOE), Washington, DC (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1892643
Patent Number(s):
11255986
Application Number:
15/891,479
Assignee:
McGregor, Douglas S. (Riley, KS)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01J - ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
DOE Contract Number:  
SC0017692
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 02/08/2018
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Citation Formats

McGregor, Douglas S., Fronk, Ryan G., and Reichenberger, Michael A. Micro cavity fission chamber radiation detection system. United States: N. p., 2022. Web.
McGregor, Douglas S., Fronk, Ryan G., & Reichenberger, Michael A. Micro cavity fission chamber radiation detection system. United States.
McGregor, Douglas S., Fronk, Ryan G., and Reichenberger, Michael A. Tue . "Micro cavity fission chamber radiation detection system". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1892643.
@article{osti_1892643,
title = {Micro cavity fission chamber radiation detection system},
author = {McGregor, Douglas S. and Fronk, Ryan G. and Reichenberger, Michael A.},
abstractNote = {A radiation detector to monitor the neutron flux of a nuclear reactor or other high-radiation environment, that can withstand the high temperatures and radiation fields of such environment, is provided. A small dielectric substrate with a low neutron-activation cross section is provided. The substrate is coated with a neutron conversion material, such as uranium oxide or thorium oxide. One or more substrates form a micro-sized detection cavity that is filled with a detection gas. A voltage is provided across anode and cathode wires in the detection cavity. A neutron absorbed in the conversion material may release reaction products into the gas, causing ionization of the gas which then produces a current or voltage signal. The small detector volume minimizes energy deposition into the detection gas by competing particles such as gamma rays, fast electrons, and beta particles, and therefore minimizes false counts while retaining large signals from neutron interactions.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2022},
month = {2}
}

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