Neutron detection and collimation
AssigneeNova Scientific, Inc.
InventorsW. Bruce Feller, Paul L. White, William J. S. Zhong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device includes a neutron-sensitive composition. The composition includes, in weight percent, a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide (e.g., approximately 1% to approximately 3.5% aluminum oxide), greater than 12% (e.g., approximately 12% to approximately 17%) boron oxide, greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide (e.g., approximately 62% to approximately 68% silicon oxide), and a non-zero amount of sodium oxide (e.g., approximately 10% to approximately 14% sodium oxide). The device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a neutron detector comprising an electron multiplier in the form of a microchannel plate that comprises a neutron-sensitive composition comprising, in weight percent,
- a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide,
- approximately 12% to approximately 17% boron oxide,
- greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide, and
- a non-zero amount of sodium oxide,
- wherein the neutron-sensitive composition forms the bulk structure of the microchannel plate, the bulk structure defining a plurality of channels, and wherein the device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
A device, comprising:
- a neutron detector comprising an electron multiplier in the form of a microchannel plate that comprises an input electrode, a glass plate, and an output electrode, the glass plate comprising a neutron-sensitive composition comprising, in weight percent,
- a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide,
- approximately 12% to approximately 17% boron oxide,
- greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide, and
- a non-zero amount of sodium oxide,
- wherein the neutron-sensitive composition forms the bulk structure of the glass plate, the bulk structure defining a plurality of microscopic channels, and wherein the device is capable of interacting with neutrons to form electron cascades in the microscopic channels.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a neutron detector comprising:
- a microchannel plate that comprises a neutron-sensitive composition comprising, in weight percent,
- a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide,
- approximately 12% to approximately 17% boron oxide,
- greater than approximately 60% silicon oxide, and
- a non-zero amount of sodium oxide,
- wherein the neutron-sensitive composition forms the bulk structure of the microchannel plate, the bulk structure defining a plurality of channels, and wherein the microchannel plate is capable of interacting with neutrons to form electron cascades in the channels;
- and
- means for applying a DC bias voltage across the channels in the microchannel plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.