Energy-sensitive fast neutron imaging detector and method for energy-sensitive fast neutron detection

An energy-sensitive neutron imaging detector, comprising:

• a) a plurality of energy-selective stacks of radiator foils being penetrable by incident neutrons, said energy-selective stacks being disposed consecutively in a flight direction of the incident neutrons;
• b) said radiator foils having a thickness increasing stepwise or continuously in said flight direction of the incident neutrons and including consecutive radiator foils being separated by gas-filled gaps;
• and
• c) a plurality of position sensitive charge detector structures being associated with at least one of said radiator foils or said gas-filled gaps.

A method for energy-sensitive neutron detection, the method comprising the following steps:

• a) providing a plurality of energy-selective stacks of radiator foils being penetrable by incident neutrons, the energy-selective stacks being disposed consecutively in a flight direction of the incident neutrons;
• b) providing a plurality of charge detector structures being associated with the radiator foils, the radiator foils having a thickness increasing stepwise or continuously in the flight direction of the incident neutrons and including consecutive radiator foils being separated by gas-filled gaps;
• c) penetrating the plurality of energy-selective stacks with neutrons thereby generating protons, the protons generating ionization electrons in the gas-filled gaps;
• d) detecting the electrons in the charge detector structures;
• and
• e) determining the energy of the incident neutrons according to a spatial distribution of the detected electrons in the charge detector structures.