# US 7,439,519 B2 · Neutron detection based on coincidence signal > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,439,519 B2 - Document ID: US7439519B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/522,795 - Filed: 2006-09-18 - Published: 2008-03-20 - Granted: 2008-10-21 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-18 - Assignees: Nova Scientific, Inc. - Inventors: W. Bruce Feller; Paul L. White; Adrian Martin; P. Brian White; Oswald H. Siegmund - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7439519B2 ## CPC - G01T 3/06: with scintillation detectors - G01T 3/08: with semiconductor detectors - G01T: MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION (radiation analysis of materials, mass spectrometry G01N23/00; tubes for determining the presence, intensity, density or energy of radiation or particles H01J47/00) ## Abstract A method includes detecting a neutron based on a time proximity of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal indicates detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray. The second signal indicates detection of a gamma ray. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting a neutron based on a time proximity of a first signal and a second signal, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and generating a detection signal indicating detection of a neutron if the second signal occurred within a specified time period after occurrence of the first signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the first signal using a microchannel plate detector. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the second signal using a gamma ray detector. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the second signal occurred within the specified time period after occurrence of the first signal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the specified time period is less than 50 nanoseconds. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the specified time period is less than 10 nanoseconds. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the neutron comprises capturing the neutron using a boron-10 particle and generating alpha and lithium-7 particles. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting a neutron comprises detecting a gamma ray within less than 50 ns after a microchannel plate detector generates an output pulse indicating detection of a neutron or a gamma ray. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising generating the second signal upon detecting a 478 keV gamma ray. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the neutron comprises capturing the neutron using a first gadolinium particle and generating a second gadolinium particle, gamma rays, and beta particles. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first gadolinium particle comprises 155Gd and the second gadolinium particle comprises 156Gd. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first gadolinium particle comprises 157Gd and the second gadolinium particle comprises 158Gd. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: generating a first signal using a microchannel plate detector, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray; generating a second signal using a gamma ray detector, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and generating a third signal indicating that a neutron has been detected by the microchannel plate detector if the second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of the first signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing a time difference between occurrence of the first signal and occurrence of the second signal. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein microchannel plate detector comprises at least one of 10B, 155Gd, and 157Gd. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein generating the first signal comprises: generating an alpha particle and a lithium-7 particle; and inducing secondary electron emissions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 50 nanoseconds. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein generating the first signal comprises generating a gadolinium particle, gamma rays, and beta particles. ### Claim 19 An apparatus comprising: a neutron detector to generate a detection signal indicating that a neutron has been detected, the neutron detector generating the detection signal if a second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of a first signal, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the neutron detector comprises a microchannel plate detector that generates the first signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with boron-10. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with gadolinium. ### Claim 23 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the neutron detector comprises a gamma ray detector that generates the second signal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the neutron detector comprises a signal processor that determines whether the second signal occurs within the specified time period after occurrence of the first signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the specified time period is less than 50 nanoseconds. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the specified time period is less than 10 nanoseconds. ### Claim 27 An apparatus comprising: a microchannel plate detector to generate a first detection signal upon detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray; a gamma ray detector to generate a second detection signal upon detection of a gamma ray; and a signal processor to generate a third signal indicating a detection of a neutron upon receiving the first and second detection signals and determining that the second detection signal occurred within a predetermined period of time after occurrence of the first detection signal. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with at least one of boron-10 and gadolinium. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises a first particle that, upon capture of a neutron, generates a second particle in an excited state that subsequently decays to a lower energy state and emits a gamma ray. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the gamma ray detector comprises a scintillator. ### Claim 31 (depends on 27) The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 50 nanoseconds. ### Claim 32 A method comprising: generating a first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray; generating a second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and generating a detection signal indicating that a neutron has been detected if the second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of the first signal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method of claim 32, wherein generating the first signal comprises generating the first signal using a micro channel plate detector comprising at least one of 10B, 155Gd, and 157Gd.