Neutron detector

US10989823B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH

Inventors

• Jörg Burmester · Lauenburg/Elbe, DE
• Gregor Jacek Nowak · Hamburg, DE
• Jörn Plewka · Geesthacht, DE
• Christian Jacobsen · Avenue Madeleine, DK
• Carsten Peter Gregersen · Lauenburg/Elbe, DE
• Wolfgang Puls · Lauenburg/Elbe, DE
• Andreas Beldowski · Lübeck, DE
• Dirk Jan Siemers · Dahmker, DE
• Rüdiger Kiehn · Bornsen, DE
• Sven Kleeband · Geesthacht, DE
• Thorsten Böttcher · Geesthacht, DE
• Gerd Musielak · Geesthacht, DE
• Erik Sitko · Altenmoor, DE
• John Hedde · Wendisch Evern, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 19, 2018
• Grant date: Apr 27, 2021
• Expiry date: Jul 19, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01T3/008
• WIPO field: Environmental technology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a neutron detector that for the first time permits the construction of large detector areas of approximately 1 m2 to 2 m2, with a spatial resolution of the neutrons of under 2 mm. It is additionally possible in the case of the modular construction in a stack arrangement to attain detection sensitivities that are comparable to 3He counter tubes (ca. 60%) or, with a greater number of detector elements, higher. By using thin substrate plates—such as aluminum sheets—and omission of the external pressure vessels, the neutron detectors are relatively lightweight despite their large dimensions and can be produced inexpensively.The neutron detector comprises at least one module (detector element) comprising in each case two mutually parallel substrate plates made from a first neutron-transparent material, with said plates being spanned in each case on a self-supporting frame made of a second neutron-transparent material and being coated with a neutron absorber material on a side that is remote from the self-supporting frame, wherein the side that is coated with a neutron absorber material faces the respectively other substrate plate on an inner side, and a …