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Title: Thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing a single material

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1354800

A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode; and a photodetector coupled to the detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays. Optionally, the detection medium includes a .sup.6LiInSe.sub.2 crystal. Optionally, the detection medium comprises a compound formed by the process of: melting a Group III element; adding a Group I element to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Group I and Group III elements to react thereby providing a single phase I-III compound; and adding a Group VI element to the single phase I-III compound and heating; wherein the Group I element includes lithium.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant (Y-12), Oak Ridge, TN (United States); Fisk Univ., Nashville, TN (United States); Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
NA0001942
Assignee:
Consolidated Nuclear Security, LLC (Oak Ridge, TN); Fisk University (Nashville, TN); University of Tennessee Research Foundation (Knoxville, TN)
Patent Number(s):
9,638,813
Application Number:
14/871,162
OSTI ID:
1354800
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2015 Sep 30
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Semiconductor radiation detector patent March 2010
Growth and properties of LiGaX2 (X = S, Se, Te) single crystals for nonlinear optical applications in the mid-IR journal April 2003
LiGaTe2:  A New Highly Nonlinear Chalcopyrite Optical Crystal for the Mid-IR journal June 2005
Characterization of the mid-infrared nonlinear crystals LiInSe 2 and LiInS 2 in the IR range conference October 2006