Neutron Detector Development Using Novel 3He

使用新型 3He 开发中子探测器

• 批准号: ST/Y509991/1
• 负责人: Charles Barton
• 金额: $ 63.72万
• 依托单位: University of York
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2023
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2023 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FY509991%2F1
• 关键词: Neutron; Detector; Development; Using; Novel

Vision:Our vision is to develop compact and portable solid-state plasma-sputtered neutron radiation detectors based on helium-3 (3He) for detecting thermal or moderated neutrons.Objectives:Our objective is to create a thin foil embedded with 3He, coupled with a similarly sized solid-state silicon detector. We will explore different geometries and flexible silicon detectors to detect the proton and potentially the 3H resulting from neutron capture reactions. These solid-state detectors with embedded 3He will be small, lightweight, highly sensitive to neutrons, and have low power requirements. For certain applications, such as security, simply detecting the presence of a neutron radioactive source above natural background levels is sufficient. We aim to develop portable systems that can be easily used in the field. We also plan to combine our embedded 3He foils with flexible amorphous silicon detectors, which we have previously developed for challenging environments like pipe assays.Importance:The demand for portable neutron detection capabilities is increasing globally. The Home Office recently invited insights for the deployment of highly mobile radiological and nuclear search and detection capabilities at border points. The need for portable neutron detectors is expected to continue growing for various purposes.Reasons for Success:3He-based detectors have been the standard for thermal neutron detection due to their high efficiency and excellent gamma/neutron discrimination. We have successfully embedded 4He into amorphous silicon foils from a previous project, achieving a column density of approximately 10^18 /cm2. We have secured new funding for a one-year project to embed 3He in foils.We will leverage our skilled staff and expertise to optimise the embedding of 3He gas in converter foils or onto solid-state detectors. Our optimised sputtering technique will be used, and we will explore nanoparticle trapping on foils or solid-state silicon detectors. This funding will enable us to build upon our expertise, investigate nanoparticle fabrication, and create stacked converter foils with silicon detectors to enhance intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency. We will also explore the coupling of converter foils with flexible silicon detectors and develop a silicon detector with embedded 3He. The University of York provides us with the necessary facilities, equipment, and expertise to bring this prototype to life.

视觉：我们的视觉是开发基于氦3（3HE）的紧凑和便携式固态等离子体辐射检测器，用于检测热中子或调节中子。目标：我们的目标是创建一个嵌入3HE的薄层，与3HE，与类似尺寸的固体硅硅探测器相结合。我们将探索不同的几何形状和柔性硅检测器，以检测质​​子，并可能是由中子捕获反应引起的3H。这些具有嵌入式3HE的固态探测器将很小，轻巧，对中子高度敏感，并且具有低功率要求。对于某些应用，例如安全性，只需检测到自然背景水平以上的中子放射性源的存在就足够了。我们旨在开发可在现场轻松使用的便携式系统。我们还计划将嵌入式的3HE箔与灵活的无定形硅探测器相结合，我们以前曾在诸如管道测定之类的挑战环境中开发出来。内政部最近邀请见解，以在边界点部署高度移动的放射学和核搜索和检测功能。预计需要便携式中子探测器的需求继续生长。我们已经成功地将4He嵌入了先前项目的无定形硅箔中，达到了大约10^18 /cm2的柱密度。我们已经为一年的项目获得了新的资金，将3HE嵌入箔纸中。我们将利用我们的熟练人员和专业知识来优化3HE天然气在转换器箔中或固态探测器中的嵌入。我们将使用我们优化的溅射技术，我们将探索在箔或固态硅探测器上诱捕纳米颗粒。这项资金将使我们能够建立我们的专业知识，研究纳米颗粒制造，并用硅探测器创建堆叠的转换器箔，以提高内在的热中子检测效率。我们还将探索转换器箔与柔性硅探测器的耦合，并用嵌入式3HE开发硅探测器。约克大学为我们提供了将该原型栩栩如生的必要设施，设备和专业知识。