Neutron detector using lithiated glass-scintillating particle composite
AssigneeNeutron Sciences, Inc.
InventorsSteven Wallace, Andrew C. Stephan, Sheng Dai, Hee-Jung Im
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Abstract
A neutron detector composed of a matrix of scintillating particles imbedded in a lithiated glass is disclosed. The neutron detector detects the neutrons by absorbing the neutron in the lithium-6 isotope which has been enriched from the natural isotopic ratio to a commercial ninety five percent. The utility of the detector is optimized by suitably selecting scintillating particle sizes in the range of the alpha and the triton. Nominal particle sizes are in the range of five to twenty five microns depending upon the specific scintillating particle selected.
Claims13
A neutron detecting material comprising:
- a matrix material fabricated from a sol-gel precursor to glass having a volumetrically high loading of a neutron absorbing material, said neutron absorbing material yielding at least one of an electron, a proton, a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment when said neutron absorbing material absorbs a neutron;
- and
- a scintillating material in particulate form and embedded in said matrix material to form a heterogeneous composition, said scintillating material being provided to scintillate when traversed by said at least one of an electron, a proton, a triton, an alpha particle and a fission fragment, said scintillating material being configured such that said matrix material surrounding particulates of said scintillating material is dimensioned such that charged particles emitted from said matrix material enter said scintillating material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.