Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection
A novel neutron detection approach is presented, consisting of a neutron sensitive aerosol obtained by dispersing B4C fine powder in a gaseous proportional counter operating in continuous flow, which proved to effectively detect thermal neutrons. This technique shows potential to be an affordable al...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidade do Porto
2022-05-01
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| Series: | U.Porto Journal of Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/1405 |
| _version_ | 1818549218968600576 |
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| author | Nuno Duarte João Marcos Fernando Amaro |
| author_facet | Nuno Duarte João Marcos Fernando Amaro |
| author_sort | Nuno Duarte |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A novel neutron detection approach is presented, consisting of a neutron sensitive aerosol obtained by dispersing B4C fine powder in a gaseous proportional counter operating in continuous flow, which proved to effectively detect thermal neutrons. This technique shows potential to be an affordable alternative to 3He neutron detectors, providing an additional mechanism to overcome the 3He shortage crisis that compromises the deployment and maintenance of neutron detectors in research facilities and security applications. The effect of the B4C nanoparticles in the charge gain and energy resolution of a proportional counter filled with Ar-CH4 (90%-10%), by irradiation with x-rays from a 55Fe source shown an average gain loss of 36% and increase in energy resolution (FWHM) by 15% (absolute value). Results obtained by thermal neutron irradiation are also presented, showing neutron captures in which the simultaneous energy deposition of both reaction products from the 10B neutron capture reaction was achieved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:30:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-89902cabe0014d918ad8471c395aa931 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-6493 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:30:31Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | Universidade do Porto |
| record_format | Article |
| series | U.Porto Journal of Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-89902cabe0014d918ad8471c395aa9312022-12-22T00:31:07ZengUniversidade do PortoU.Porto Journal of Engineering2183-64932022-05-0183242810.24840/2183-6493_008.003_00061576Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron DetectionNuno Duarte0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7019-1314João Marcos1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8288-9509Fernando Amaro2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7315-0550LIBPhys-University of CoimbraLIBPhys–University of CoimbraLIBPhys–University of CoimbraA novel neutron detection approach is presented, consisting of a neutron sensitive aerosol obtained by dispersing B4C fine powder in a gaseous proportional counter operating in continuous flow, which proved to effectively detect thermal neutrons. This technique shows potential to be an affordable alternative to 3He neutron detectors, providing an additional mechanism to overcome the 3He shortage crisis that compromises the deployment and maintenance of neutron detectors in research facilities and security applications. The effect of the B4C nanoparticles in the charge gain and energy resolution of a proportional counter filled with Ar-CH4 (90%-10%), by irradiation with x-rays from a 55Fe source shown an average gain loss of 36% and increase in energy resolution (FWHM) by 15% (absolute value). Results obtained by thermal neutron irradiation are also presented, showing neutron captures in which the simultaneous energy deposition of both reaction products from the 10B neutron capture reaction was achieved.https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/1405neutron detection3he alternativeproportional counterfine powder |
| spellingShingle | Nuno Duarte João Marcos Fernando Amaro Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection U.Porto Journal of Engineering neutron detection 3he alternative proportional counter fine powder |
| title | Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection |
| title_full | Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection |
| title_fullStr | Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection |
| title_short | Fine Powder Proportional Counters for Neutron Detection |
| title_sort | fine powder proportional counters for neutron detection |
| topic | neutron detection 3he alternative proportional counter fine powder |
| url | https://journalengineering.fe.up.pt/index.php/upjeng/article/view/1405 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nunoduarte finepowderproportionalcountersforneutrondetection AT joaomarcos finepowderproportionalcountersforneutrondetection AT fernandoamaro finepowderproportionalcountersforneutrondetection |