Development of a portable isotropic neutron spectrometer

Area of Science:

• Nuclear instrumentation and measurement science.
• Applied physics and materials science.

Background:

• Accurate characterization of neutron fields is crucial for various applications, including radiation protection and nuclear physics research.
• Existing neutron spectrometry and dosimetry devices often face limitations in portability, accuracy, or energy range coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a portable neutron spectrometry and dosimetry measurement device.
• To accurately characterize neutron fields using an innovative instrument.
• To evaluate the performance of three distinct detector designs based on new semiconductor technology.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel instrument integrating Bonner-sphere and surface barrier detector principles.
• Utilization of large-area thin-film semiconductors grown on high-density polyethylene substrates.
• Fabrication and testing of three distinct detector configurations.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of a portable device capable of neutron field characterization.
• Successful integration of advanced semiconductor materials into detector design.
• Comparative analysis of results from three tested detection devices.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable neutron measurement device shows promise for accurate neutron field characterization.
• The use of advanced semiconductor materials on polyethylene substrates is effective for neutron detection.
• Further testing and refinement of the proposed detector designs are warranted.