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.

愿景：我们的愿景是开发基于氦 3 (3He) 的紧凑型便携式固态等离子体溅射中子辐射探测器，用于检测热中子或慢化中子。目标：我们的目标是制造嵌入 3He 的薄箔，并结合类似尺寸的固态硅探测器。我们将探索不同的几何形状和灵活的硅探测器来检测质子以及中子捕获反应产生的 3H。这些嵌入 3He 的固态探测器体积小、重量轻、对中子高度敏感，并且功耗要求低。对于某些应用，例如安全，简单地检测高于自然本底水平的中子放射源的存在就足够了。我们的目标是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 3He 箔与灵活的非晶硅探测器结合起来，这些探测器是我们之前为管道分析等具有挑战性的环境而开发的。重要性：全球对便携式中子探测能力的需求正在不断增加。英国内政部最近邀请了有关在边境口岸部​​署高度机动的放射性和核搜索和探测能力的见解。各种用途对便携式中子探测器的需求预计将继续增长。成功的原因：基于 3He 的探测器由于其高效率和出色的伽马/中子辨别能力，已成为热中子探测的标准。我们已经成功地将 4He 嵌入到之前项目的非晶硅箔中，实现了大约 10^18 /cm2 的柱密度。我们已经为为期一年的将 3He 嵌入箔片的项目获得了新的资金。我们将利用我们熟练的员工和专业知识来优化 3He 气体在转换器箔片或固态探测器上的嵌入。我们将使用优化的溅射技术，并且我们将探索箔或固态硅探测器上的纳米粒子捕获。这笔资金将使我们能够利用我们的专业知识，研究纳米粒子制造，并创建带有硅探测器的堆叠转换器箔，以提高固有热中子探测效率。我们还将探索转换器箔片与柔性硅探测器的耦合，并开发具有嵌入式 3He 的硅探测器。约克大学为我们提供了必要的设施、设备和专业知识，使这个原型成为现实。