Efficient Thermal Neutron Position Sensitive Detector Neutron and Electron Beam Instrumentation

This project will develop a novel type of thermal neutron counting detector, which will be optimized for the imaging of thermal neutrons with high detection efficiency (greater than 50 percent), spatial resolution (approximately 55 microns), and time resolution (approximately 1 millisecond) for each detected neutron. The counting rate of detector can be as high as 100 MHz with an active area scalable to rectangular configuration of 28 x (N14) mm2. The detectors offer the prospect of combining position resolution available now only on photographic film with rate capabilities potentially superior to that of any presently operating neutron detection system. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The development of such a sensitive high resolution detection system would benefit researchers at the Spallation Neutron Source and other government laboratories, permitting advanced experimentation to go forward. It also could be used for precise neutron beam formation and monitoring. In addition, the technology should be applicable to such diverse areas as biological imaging (e.g., in situ root growing), inspection of nuclear fuel, explosives detection, or even analysis of museum objects.