GAMBE: multipurpose sandwich detector for neutrons and photons

A. Ahmed; S. Burdin; G. Casse; H. van Zalinge; S. Powel; J. Rees; A. Smith; I. Tsurin

doi:10.1117/12.2236752

3 October 2016 GAMBE: multipurpose sandwich detector for neutrons and photons

A. Ahmed, S. Burdin, G. Casse, H. van Zalinge, S. Powel, J. Rees, A. Smith, I. Tsurin

Proceedings Volume 9969, Radiation Detectors: Systems and Applications XVII; 99690E (2016) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2236752
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2016, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Detectors made with semiconductors such as silicon can be efficiently used for detecting and imaging neutrons when coated with suitable materials. They detect the charged reaction products resulting from the interaction of thermal neutrons with materials with high capture cross section like ¹⁰B, ⁶Li, and ⁶LiF. This work describes the performance of a thermal neutron detector system, GAMBE, which is based on silicon sensors and a layer of neutron-sensitive material, such as a lithium fluoride film or a lithium-6 foil, in a sandwich configuration. This arrangement has a total detection efficiency of 4 ± 2 %, 7 ± 1 %, and12 ± 1 % for 7 μm 6LiF film, 40 μm and 70 μm ⁶Li foil respectively. Also, it enhances the rejection of fake hits using a simple coincidence method. The coincidence that defines a true neutron hit is the simultaneous signal recorded by the two sensors facing the conversion layer (or foil). These coincidences provide a very good method for rejecting the spurious hits coming from gamma-rays, which are usually present in the neutron field under measurement. The GAMBE system yields a rejection factor at the level of 10⁸ allowing very pure neutron detection in high gamma background conditions. However, the price to pay is a reduction of the detection efficiency of 1 ± 1 % or 0:9 ± 0:3 % for 7 μm ⁶LiF film and 40 μm ⁶Li foil respectively.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

A. Ahmed, S. Burdin, G. Casse, H. van Zalinge, S. Powel, J. Rees, A. Smith, and I. Tsurin "GAMBE: multipurpose sandwich detector for neutrons and photons", Proc. SPIE 9969, Radiation Detectors: Systems and Applications XVII, 99690E (3 October 2016); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2236752

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