Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons
Abstract
The instant invention is a method for making and using an apparatus for detecting neutrons. Scintillating optical fibers are fabricated by melting SiO.sub.2 with a thermal neutron capturing substance and a scintillating material in a reducing atmosphere. The melt is then drawn into fibers in an anoxic atmosphere. The fibers may then be coated and used directly in a neutron detection apparatus, or assembled into a geometrical array in a second, hydrogen-rich, scintillating material such as a polymer. Photons generated by interaction with thermal neutrons are trapped within the coated fibers and are directed to photoelectric converters. A measurable electronic signal is generated for each thermal neutron interaction within the fiber. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation. When the fibers are arranged in an array within a second scintillating material, photons generated by kinetic neutrons interacting with the second scintillating material and photons generated by thermal neutron capture within the fiber can both be directed to photoelectric converters. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation.
- Inventors:
-
- Richland, WA
- Benton City, WA
- Orangevale, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 871200
- Patent Number(s):
- 5680423
- Assignee:
- Battelle Memorial Institute (Richland, WA)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; apparatus; detecting; neutrons; instant; scintillating; optical; fibers; fabricated; melting; sio; thermal; neutron; capturing; substance; material; reducing; atmosphere; melt; drawn; anoxic; coated; directly; detection; assembled; geometrical; array; hydrogen-rich; polymer; photons; generated; interaction; trapped; directed; photoelectric; converters; measurable; electronic; signal; fiber; signals; manipulated; stored; interpreted; normal; methods; infer; quality; quantity; incident; radiation; arranged; kinetic; interacting; capture; scintillating material; coated fibers; neutron detection; detecting neutrons; incident radiation; detection apparatus; thermal neutron; reducing atmosphere; optical fibers; optical fiber; neutron capture; thermal neutrons; electronic signal; electric converter; electronic signals; coated fiber; detecting neutron; /376/250/
Citation Formats
Perkins, Richard W, Reeder, Paul L, Wogman, Ned A, Warner, Ray A, Brite, Daniel W, Richey, Wayne C, and Goldman, Don S. Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons. United States: N. p., 1997.
Web.
Perkins, Richard W, Reeder, Paul L, Wogman, Ned A, Warner, Ray A, Brite, Daniel W, Richey, Wayne C, & Goldman, Don S. Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons. United States.
Perkins, Richard W, Reeder, Paul L, Wogman, Ned A, Warner, Ray A, Brite, Daniel W, Richey, Wayne C, and Goldman, Don S. Wed .
"Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/871200.
@article{osti_871200,
title = {Method and apparatus for detecting neutrons},
author = {Perkins, Richard W and Reeder, Paul L and Wogman, Ned A and Warner, Ray A and Brite, Daniel W and Richey, Wayne C and Goldman, Don S},
abstractNote = {The instant invention is a method for making and using an apparatus for detecting neutrons. Scintillating optical fibers are fabricated by melting SiO.sub.2 with a thermal neutron capturing substance and a scintillating material in a reducing atmosphere. The melt is then drawn into fibers in an anoxic atmosphere. The fibers may then be coated and used directly in a neutron detection apparatus, or assembled into a geometrical array in a second, hydrogen-rich, scintillating material such as a polymer. Photons generated by interaction with thermal neutrons are trapped within the coated fibers and are directed to photoelectric converters. A measurable electronic signal is generated for each thermal neutron interaction within the fiber. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation. When the fibers are arranged in an array within a second scintillating material, photons generated by kinetic neutrons interacting with the second scintillating material and photons generated by thermal neutron capture within the fiber can both be directed to photoelectric converters. These electronic signals are then manipulated, stored, and interpreted by normal methods to infer the quality and quantity of incident radiation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997},
month = {Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997}
}
Works referenced in this record:
The physics and structure-property relationships of scintillator materials: effect of thermal history and chemistry on the light output of scintillating glasses
journal, March 1994
- Bliss, M.; Craig, R. A.; Reeder, P. L.
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 342, Issue 2-3
Method for measuring the light output of scintillating glass shards
journal, June 1994
- Bliss, M.; Craig, R. A.; Reeder, P. L.
- Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 345, Issue 1