Solid state neutron detector and method for use
AssigneeSandia Corporation
InventorsF. Patrick Doty, Ilya Zwieback, Warren Ruderman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Crystals of lithium tetraborate or alpha-barium borate had been found to be neutron detecting materials. The crystals are prepared using known crystal growing techniques, wherein the process does not include the common practice of using a fluxing agent, such as sodium oxide or sodium fluoride, to reduce the melting temperature of the crystalline compound. Crystals prepared by this method can be sliced into thin single or polycrystalline wafers, or ground to a powder and prepared as a sintered compact or a print paste, and then configured with appropriate electronic hardware, in order to function as neutron detectors.
Claims26
A neutron detector, comprising crystals of a barium borate compound, wherein said crystals are grown from a melt consisting essentially of a stoichiometric composition of barium, boron and oxygen.
A neutron detector, comprising crystals of a lithium borate compound, wherein said crystals are grown from a melt consisting essentially of a stoichiometric composition of boron, lithium, and oxygen.
A detector array comprising a plurality of neutron detectors, wherein each said detector comprises a barium borate compound grown from a melt consisting essentially of a stoichiometric composition of barium, boron and oxygen.
A detector array comprising a plurality of neutron detectors, wherein each said detector comprises a lithium borate compound grown from a melt consisting essentially of a stoichiometric composition of lithium, boron, and oxygen.
A method for making a neutron sensitive detector, the method comprising the steps of:
- a.) providing a quantity of material consisting essentially of either a pure barium borate compound or a pure lithium borate compound;
- b.) heating said material, in an atmosphere containing oxygen, to a temperature sufficient to melt said material, said material melted without the aid of a flux;
- c.) crystallizing said melt thereby forming a crystalline or polycrystalline boule, and
- e) preparing said boule to provide a thin detector portion, said detector portion exhibiting a measurable electric signal response in the presence of neutrons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.