An ultra fast, radiation-resistant fast neutron detector

Area of Science:

• Nuclear instrumentation
• Particle detection physics

Background:

• Accurate detection of fast neutrons (14 MeV) is crucial for applications in nuclear physics and security.
• Traditional detectors face challenges with background noise and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel detector system for 14-MeV neutron detection.
• To minimize background signals from the detector components.

Main Methods:

• A parallel plate avalanche chamber was combined with a polypropylene sheet as a neutron-to-charged-particle converter.
• Careful shielding was implemented to reduce background noise.
• Signal characteristics and detection efficiency were measured.

Main Results:

• Neutron-induced charged particle background from the chamber body was reduced to less than 6 x 10^-5 counts per incident neutron.
• Fast signals with approximately 7 ns pulse width were observed.
• The overall detection efficiency was determined to be 0.15%.

Conclusions:

• The developed detector system demonstrates effective 14-MeV neutron detection with significantly reduced background.
• The combination of a parallel plate avalanche chamber and polypropylene converter shows promise for future neutron detection applications.