Optically stimulated, fast neutron sensor and dosimeter and fiber-optic coupled fast neutron remote sensor and dosimeter
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsBrian L. Justus, Alan L. Huston, Alan L. Justus
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for the measurement of fast neutrons is described. he apparatus comprises a proton radiator with a doped glass, such as a Nd-doped glass containing ZnS:Cu. The dosimeter may be read by either laser heating or infrared stimulation of the glass or by direct scintillation. The fast neutron dose in a mixed field of gamma rays and fast neutrons can be measured by comparison of a dosimeter without a proton radiator and a dosimeter with a proton radiator.
Claims41
A fast neutron sensing device comprising:
- a proton radiator coated on a doped glass selected from the group consisting of a doped glass that exhibits light stimulatable thermoluminescence, a doped glass that exhibits light stimulatable luminescence and a doped glass that exhibits scintillation.
A method for the detection of fast neutrons in a radiation field comprising the steps of:
- exposing a doped glass coated with a proton radiator to a radiation field of neutrons;
- and
- measuring the scintillation light of the doped glass.
A method for the detection of fast neutrons in a radiation field comprising the steps of:
- exposing a doped glass coated with a proton radiator to a radiation field of fast neutrons;
- allowing the doped glass to accumulate electrons and holes in traps;
- stimulating the doped glass so as to allow the doped glass to luminesce;
- and
- measuring the luminescence of the doped glass.
A method for the differential detection of fast neutrons in a radiation field comprising gamma rays and fast neutrons comprising the steps of:
- providing a fast neutron sensing device comprising a doped glass phosphor with a proton radiator adjacent to a doped glass phosphor with either a proton nonradiator or no coating;
- exposing the fast neutron sensing device to a radiation field comprising gamma rays and fast neutrons;
- measuring the scintillation from the fast neutron sensing device;
- and
- determining the difference between the measured scintillation of the doped glass phosphor with the proton radiator and the measured scintillation of the doped glass phosphor with either said proton nonradiator or no coating.
A method for the differential detection of fast neutrons in a radiation field comprising gamma rays and fast neutrons comprising the steps of:
- providing a fast neutron sensing device comprising a doped glass phosphor with a proton radiator adjacent to a doped glass phosphor with either a proton nonradiator or no coating;
- exposing the fast neutron sensing device to a radiation field comprising gamma rays and fast neutrons;
- allowing the fast neutron sensing device to accumulate trapped electrons and holes;
- stimulating the fast neutron sensing device with light to allow luminescence;
- measuring the luminescence of the fast neutron sensing device;
- and
- determining the difference between the measured scintillation of the doped glass phosphor with the proton radiator and the measured scintillation of the doped glass phosphor with either said proton nonradiator or no coating.
A method for the remote sensing of fast neutron radiation comprising the steps of:
- providing a fast neutron sensing device comprising a doped glass phosphor with a proton radiator attached to an optical fiber;
- exposing the fast neutron sensing device to fast neutrons;
- and
- measuring the scintillation light transmitted through the optical fiber.
A method for the remote sensing of fast neutron radiation comprising the steps of:
- providing a fast neutron sensing device comprising a doped glass phosphor with a proton radiator attached to an optical fiber;
- exposing the fast neutron sensing device to fast neutrons;
- allowing the fast neutron sensing device to accumulate trapped electrons and holes;
- stimulating the fast neutron sensing device with light to allow luminescence;
- and
- measuring the luminescence of the fast neutron sensing device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.