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US 12,130,393 B2Granted
Layered scintillating neutron detector
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsKyle Alan Nelson, Stephanie Lam
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Abstract
A detector detects at least one neutron. The detector includes at least one thin absorption layer each including an absorption material for absorbing the neutron and then radioactively decaying into energetic byproducts. The detector includes at least one emission layer each including a solid scintillation material for converting the energetic byproducts into photons. The detector includes a sensor for detecting the photons.
Claims20
A detector for detecting at least one neutron comprising:
- at least one thin absorption layer, each thin absorption layer including an absorption material for absorbing the at least one neutron and then radioactively decaying into a plurality of energetic byproducts;
- at least one emission layer, each emission layer including a solid scintillation material for converting the plurality of energetic byproducts into a plurality of photons;
- wherein each of the plurality of thin absorption layers is sandwiched between two of the plurality of emission layers for together converting the plurality of energetic byproducts from the at least one neutron into the plurality of photons;
- and
- a sensor for detecting the plurality of photons.
2 more elements
A detector for detecting at least one neutron comprising:
- a plurality of thin absorption layers, each on layer including an absorption material for absorbing the at least one neutron and then radioactively decaying into a plurality of energetic byproducts;
- a plurality of emission layers, each emission layer including a solid scintillation material for converting the plurality of energetic byproducts into a plurality of photons,
- wherein the plurality of thin absorption layers and the plurality of emission layers alternate within a stack in the detector;
- a sensor for detecting the plurality of photons;
- and
- an opaque reflective coating surrounding said plurality of thin absorption layers, said plurality of emission layers, and the sensor.
3 more elements
A detector for detecting at least one neutron comprising:
- a plurality of thin absorption layers, each thin absorption layer including an absorption material for absorbing the at least one neutron and then radioactively decaying into a plurality of energetic byproducts;
- a plurality of emission layers, each emission layer including a solid scintillation material for converting the plurality of energetic byproducts into a plurality of photons;
- wherein the plurality of thin absorption layers and the plurality of emission layers alternate within a stack in the detector;
- a sensor for detecting the plurality of photons;
- the at least one neutron comprises a thermal neutron with a kinetic energy of less than 1 eV;
- each of the plurality of thin absorption layers is sandwiched between two of the plurality of emission layers for converting the plurality of energetic byproducts from the thermal neutron into the plurality of photons;
- each of the plurality of thin absorption layers consists of a solid selected from the group consisting of a metal foil of the absorption material consisting essentially of 6Li, a thin sheet consisting of a binder and the absorption material consisting essentially of a powder of 6LiF, and a thin boron layer of the absorption material consisting essentially of 10B;
- each of the plurality of energetic byproducts is selected from the group consisting of a triton particle, an alpha particle, and an energetic 7Li;
- each of the plurality of emission layers consists of the solid scintillation material selected from the group consisting of a semiconductor and an insulator;
- and
- the sensor includes a photomultiplier tube or a silicon photomultiplier for detecting the plurality of photons.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.