Neutron and gamma detector using an ionization chamber with an integrated body and moderator

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• an array of cathodes;
• wherein half of said cathodes are upward facing;
• wherein half of said cathodes are downward facing;
• wherein each cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• a plastic housing surrounding said cathodes;
• a plastic top cover attached to said housing;
• wherein the top cover encloses the interior volumes of said upward facing cathodes;
• a plastic bottom cover attached to the housing opposite said top cover;
• wherein said bottom cover encloses the interior volumes of said downward facing cathodes;
• at least one anode extending from said top cover and said bottom cover into the interior volume of each cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of each cathode;
• and
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of each cathode.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein said cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• at least one anode extending into the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• a plastic housing surrounding said cathode;
• wherein the plastic housing is configured to function as a structural component and a moderator of neutrons;
• at least one high voltage bias source electrically connected to said cathode;
• and
• processing electronics electrically connected to said anode, the processing electronics including logic for separately registering neutron pulses and gamma pulses.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein said cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• at least one anode extending into the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• at least one high voltage bias source electrically connected to said cathode;
• processing electronics electrically connected to said anode and configured with logic for separating neutron pulses from gamma pulses;
• wherein said processing electronics includes logic for;
• receiving plural current pulses from said anode;
• converting said current pulses into a train of overlapping pulses;
• converting said train of overlapping pulses into plural Gaussian pulses;
• sending each Gaussian pulse having an amplitude above a predetermined threshold to a pulse counter;
• and
• integrating each Gaussian pulse having an amplitude below the predetermined threshold to establish plural integrated pulses.

A method for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• providing at least one cathode having an interior surface and an interior volume;
• providing a plastic housing around said cathode;
• wherein the plastic housing is configured to function as a structural component and a moderator of neutrons;
• providing at least one anode that extends into the interior volume of each said cathode;
• providing at least one working gas within the interior volume of said cathode;
• providing at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• providing at least one high voltage bias source that is electrically connected to said cathode;
• and
• providing processing electronics that are electrically connected to said anode, said processing electronics including logic for separating neutron pulses from gamma pulses.

A method for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• providing at least one cathode having an interior surface and an interior volume;
• providing a plastic housing around said cathode;
• providing at least one anode that extends into the interior volume of each said cathode;
• providing at least one working gas within the interior volume of said cathode;
• providing at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• providing at least one high voltage bias source that is electrically connected to said cathode, and
• providing processing electronics that are electrically connected to said anode, said processing electronics including logic for separating neutron pulses from gamma pulses;
• wherein said processing electronics includes logic for;
• receiving plural current pulses from said anode;
• converting said current pulses into a train of overlapped pulses;
• converting said train of overlapped pulses into plural Gaussian pulses;
• sending each Gaussian pulse having an amplitude above a predetermined threshold to a pulse counter;
• and
• integrating each Gaussian pulse having an amplitude below said predetermined threshold to establish plural integrated pulses.

A method of manufacturing a radiation detector, comprising:

• manufacturing a plastic body and a lid by injection molding;
• fusing a feedthrough insulator, with retained feedthrough electrode, and a pinch-off tube within said lid;
• metalizing the entire inner surface of said plastic body and said lid, except contact surfaces between said body and lid, said feedthrough insulator and said pinch-off tube;
• laminating over the metalization with 6Li foil;
• joining said lid to said plastic body and sealing the surfaces;
• evacuating the entire volume of the detector chamber retained within said plastic body covered by said lid;
• filling said entire volume with working gas;
• sealing said entire volume to prevent loss of working gas;
• connecting exterior chamber metalization to ground potential;
• and
• connecting said feedthrough electrode to electronics circuitry for registering gamma and neutron activity.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein the cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• a plastic housing surrounding the cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to the housing;
• wherein the lid encloses the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one anode extending from the lid into the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of the cathode;
• and
• an electrostatic shield layer at least partially covering the housing.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein the cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• a plastic housing surrounding the cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to the housing;
• wherein the lid encloses the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one anode extending from the lid into the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of the cathode;
• and
• an electrostatic shield layer at least partially covering said lid.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein the cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• a plastic housing surrounding the cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to the housing;
• wherein the lid encloses the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one anode extending from the lid into the interior volume of the cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• and
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of the cathode;
• wherein said anode is affixed to a hermetically sealed feed-through insulator that extends from said lid into the interior volume.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein said cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• at least one anode extending into the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• at least one high voltage bias source electrically connected to said cathode;
• processing electronics electrically connected to said anode, the processing electronics including logic for separately registering neutron pulses and gamma pulses;
• a plastic housing surrounding said cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to said plastic housing;
• wherein said lid encloses the interior volume of said cathode;
• wherein said anode extends from said plastic lid into the interior volume of said cathode;
• and
• an electrostatic shield layer at least partially covering said plastic housing.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein said cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• at least one anode extending into the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• at least one high voltage bias source electrically connected to said cathode;
• processing electronics electrically connected to said anode, the processing electronics including logic for separately registering neutron pulses and gamma pulses;
• a plastic housing surrounding said cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to said plastic housing;
• wherein said lid encloses the interior volume of said cathode;
• wherein said anode extends from said plastic lid into the interior volume of said cathode;
• and
• an electrostatic shield layer at least partially covering said lid.

A detector for detecting neutrons and gamma radiation, comprising:

• at least one cathode;
• wherein said cathode defines an interior surface and an interior volume;
• at least one anode extending into the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one working gas disposed within the interior volume of said cathode;
• at least one conductive neutron-capturing layer at least partially disposed on the interior surface of said cathode;
• at least one high voltage bias source electrically connected to said cathode;
• processing electronics electrically connected to said anode, the processing electronics including logic for separately registering neutron pulses and gamma pulses;
• a plastic housing surrounding said cathode;
• at least one plastic lid attached to said plastic housing;
• wherein said lid encloses the interior volume of said cathode;
• wherein said anode extends from said plastic lid into the interior volume of said cathode;
• and
• wherein said anode is affixed to a hermetically sealed feed-through insulator that extends from said lid into said interior volume.