Directional neutron detector
OwnerDavid Edward Newmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A neutron detector that indicates the direction toward a neutron source. The detector is a proton-recoil type of detector, in which two different scintillators are positioned on both sides of a hydrogenous target. Proton recoil signals from the two scintillators indicate whether neutrons arrive from the left, right, or center relative to the detector alignment. Surprisingly high precision can be obtained by orienting the detector so that the counting rates in the two scintillators are equal, at which point the target layer is directly aligned with the source. Disclosed are thick and thin target configurations, versions for discriminating pulses from the two scintillators, options for assembling a multi-detector stack and array, and multiple analysis procedures for optimally locating the neutron source.
Claims20
A device for locating a radioactive source, comprising:
- a target comprising a substantially planar layer comprising hydrogenous material configured to emit a recoil proton responsive to a neutron scattering event therein, the target being oriented parallel to a centrally positioned target plane;
- a first scintillator comprising a substantially planar layer of material configured to emit a light pulse of a first type responsive to traversal by a charged particle, the first scintillator being parallel to the target plane and proximate to a first side of the target layer;
- a second scintillator comprising a substantially planar layer of material configured to emit a light pulse of a second type responsive to traversal by a charged particle, the second scintillator being parallel to the target plane and proximate to a second side of the target layer, the second side being opposite to the first side of the target layer;
- and
- a processor configured to count the first type pulses and the second type pulses, and thereby determine whether the radioactive source is located closer to the first scintillator or the second scintillator.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of targets, each target comprising a substantially planar layer of hydrogenous material configured to emit a recoil proton responsive to a neutron scattering therein, each target having a first side and a second side which is opposite the first side;
- a plurality of first scintillators, each first scintillator comprising a substantially planar layer of non-hydrogenous material that emits a first light pulse responsive to traversal by a charged particle, each first scintillator being proximate to the first side of one target of the plurality of targets respectively;
- a plurality of second scintillators, each second scintillator comprising a substantially planar layer of non-hydrogenous material that emits a second light pulse responsive to traversal by a charged particle, each second scintillator being proximate to the second side of one target of the plurality of targets respectively;
- a centrally positioned target plane oriented parallel to the targets, wherein the target plane is a boundary between a first region and an opposite second region;
- and
- a processor configured to calculate a first detection rate according to the first light pulses and a second detection rate according to the second light pulses, and to determine that a neutron source is in the first region when the second detection rate is greater than the first detection rate, and that the neutron source is in the second region when the first detection rate is greater than the second detection rate.
A device for locating a neutron source, comprising:
- a planar hydrogenous target layer configured to emit a recoil proton when struck by a neutron from the neutron source;
- a left scintillator positioned on a left side of the target layer and configured to detect recoil protons therein;
- a right scintillator positioned on a right side of the target layer, the right side being opposite to the left side, and configured to detect recoil protons therein;
- and a processor configured to determine that the neutron source is on the left side of the target layer when the right scintillator detects more recoil protons than the left scintillator, and that the neutron source is on the right side of the target layer when the left scintillator detects more recoil protons than the right scintillator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.