Apparatus and method for the determination of one or more neutron source characteristics

An apparatus for determination of one or more neutron source characteristics comprising:

• a neutron-photon detector including:
• a plurality of neutron-photon detector assemblies, each of the neutron-photon detector assemblies including a plurality of detection devices, wherein the detection devices are configured to detect one or more characteristics of at least one of neutrons or photons emanating from one or more neutron sources and impinging on one or more of the detection devices;
• a moderating volume, wherein the plurality of neutron-photon detector assemblies are disposed within the moderating volume so as to form a three-dimensional array of detection devices within the moderating volume, wherein the moderating volume is configured to moderate the energy of neutrons impinging on one or more of the neutron detector assemblies;
• and
• an analyzer communicatively coupled to each of the detection devices of the plurality of neutron-photon detector assemblies, the analyzer configured to:
• receive one or more measured response signals from each of the detection devices, the one or more measured response signals indicative of at least one of a detected neutron event or a detected photon event;
• and
• determine one or more characteristics of the one or more neutron sources based on the received one or more measured response signals.

An apparatus for determination of one or more neutron source characteristics comprising:

• a neutron detector including:
• a plurality of neutron detector assemblies, each of the neutron detector assemblies including a plurality of neutron detection devices, wherein the neutron detection devices are configured to detect one or more characteristics of neutrons emanating from one or more sources and impinging on one or more of the neutron detection devices;
• a moderating volume, wherein the plurality of neutron detector assemblies are disposed within the moderating volume so as to form a three-dimensional array of neutron detection devices within the moderating volume;
• a photon detector disposed at a location remote from the neutron detector;
• and
• an analyzer communicatively coupled to each of the neutron detection devices of the plurality of neutron detector assemblies, the analyzer communicatively coupled to the photon detector, the analyzer configured to:
• receive one or more measured neutron response signals from each of the neutron detection devices, the one or more measured response signals indicative of a detected neutron event;
• receive one or more measured photon response signals from the photon detector indicative of a detected photon event;
• determine one or more characteristics of the one or more neutron sources based on the received one or more measured neutron response signals and the received one or more measured photon response signals;
• and
• perform a measurement fusion process on the one or more neutron response signals and the one or more photon response signals to form a combined response signal.