Lithium-6 foil neutron detector
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorCharles A. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A neutron detection apparatus is provided which includes a selected number f flat surfaces of lithium-6 foil, and which further includes a gas mixture in contact with each of the flat surfaces for selectively reacting to charged particles emitted by or radiated from the lithium foil. A container is provided to seal the lithium foil and the gas mixture in a volume from which water vapor and atmospheric gases are excluded, the container having one or more walls which are transmissive to neutrons. Monitoring equipment in contact with the gas mixture detects reactions taking place in the gas mixture, and, in response to such reactions, provides notice of the flux of neutrons passing through the volume of the detector.
Claims15
Neutron detection apparatus comprising:
- a selected number of flat surfaces of lithium-6 foil, each said flat surface of lithium-6 foil comprising a flat lithium-6 sheet, the thickness of each of said sheets being less than the range of a triton particle through lithium;
- a gas mixture in contact with each of said flat lithium foil surfaces for selectively reacting to charged particles radiated from said lithium-6 foil, said gas mixture comprising a counting gas mixture which is readily ionized by triton particles passing through said counting gas mixture;
- container means for sealing said lithium foil and said reacting gas mixture within a volume from which water vapor and atmospheric gases are excluded, said container means having walls which are transmissive to neutrons;
- and
- monitoring means in contact with said gas mixture for detecting reactions in said gas mixture, and for providing an output which is proportional to the flux of neutrons through said apparatus.
Neutron detection apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of flat sheets of lithium-6 foil which are stacked in spaced-apart parallel relationship;
- a selected counting gas mixture which is in contact with a number of surfaces of said sheets of lithium-6 foil;
- an array of count wires in spaced parallel relationship with each of the surfaces of said lithium sheets which is in contact with said counting gas;
- container means for enclosing said lithium-6 sheets, said counting gas, and said count wire arrays in a hermetically sealed chamber, one or more of the walls of said chamber being formed of material which is transmissive to neutrons;
- and
- means penetrating said container means for enabling said count wires to be electrically coupled to electronic processing equipment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.