Neutron Detectors For Active Interrogation

摘要

The present invention includes a method for radiation detection. The present invention utilized boron-coated detectors as a new alternative to large ³He tubes that will address the timing limitations of 3He-based detectors in active interrogation systems, by providing a 100-times faster ion collection time. This may enable the counting of prompt neutrons starting within 10 μs following each gamma ray pulse. Current ³He-based detectors can only count delayed neutrons, and the linac pulse rate is severely limited by the lengthy times required to count these very late neutrons. If detection of the prompt component can be achieved, up to 150 times more neutrons can be detected in each pulse and pulse rate can be increased by more than 10 fold, giving a net sensitivity gain of 1500 while using the same detection array and linac.