10B4C multi-grid as an alternative to 3He for large area neutron detectors

J. Birch, J. C. Buffet, J. Correa, P. Van Esch, B. Guerard, R. Hall-Wilton, C. Hoglund, L. Hultman, A. Khaplanov, F. Piscitelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Despite its present shortage, 3He continues to be the most common neutron converter for detectors in neutron scattering science. However, it is obvious that the development of large area neutron detectors based on alternative neutron converters is rapidly becoming a matter of urgency. In the technique presented here, grids each comprising 28 10B 4Clayers (each 1 μm thick) are used to convert neutrons into ionizing particles which are subsequently detected in proportional gas counters. The total active area of the prototype is 8 cm × 200 cm. To instrument this detector 4.6 m2 of 10B-enriched boron carbide were coated onto aluminium blades using a DC magnetron sputtering machine. Characterization of the prototype showed neutron efficiency to be εn = for 2.5 Å neutrons, which is in line with expectations from MC simulation. This result demonstrates the potential of this technique as alternative to 3He-based position sensitive detectors.

Original languageEnglish
Article number6414613
Pages (from-to)871-878
Number of pages8
JournalIEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science
Volume60
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • He crisis
  • Boron-lined detector
  • multi-grid neutron detector

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