Back to results
US 9,006,672 B2Granted
Neutron detection
AssigneeNova Scientific, Inc.
InventorsW. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A neutron detector includes a microchannel plate having a structure that defines a plurality of microchannels, and layers of materials disposed on walls of the microchannels. The layers include a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material. For example, the layer of neutron sensitive material can include boron-10, lithium-6, or gadolinium.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a microfiber plate comprising:
- a plurality of microfibers that define interstices between the microfibers;
- layers of materials disposed on surfaces of the microfibers, the layers including a layer of neutron sensitive material, a layer of semiconducting material, and a layer of electron emissive material, in which the layer of semiconducting material does not include neutron sensitive material;
- an input electrode;
- and
- an output electrode, in which the microfibers are disposed between the input and output electrodes.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a microfiber plate, the method comprising:
- providing a plurality of microfibers that define interstices between the microfibers;
- and
- depositing layers of materials on surfaces of the microfibers, including
- depositing a layer of neutron sensitive material,
- depositing a layer of semiconducting material, and
- depositing a layer of electron emissive material.
3 more elements
A method of detecting neutrons, the method comprising:
- using a layer of neutron sensitive material formed on surfaces of microfibers of a microfiber plate to capture a neutron and generate at least one reactant particle;
- detecting secondary electrons that are generated based on an interaction between the reactant particle and a layer of electron emissive material on the surfaces of the microfibers;
- flowing a bias current through a layer of a semiconducting material formed on a surface of each of at least some of the microfibers to neutralize positive surface charges due to emission of secondary electrons, the layer of the semiconducting material not containing the neutron sensitive material;
- and
- generating a first signal indicating detection of a neutron.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.