Method and apparatus for a directional neutron detector which discriminates neutrons from gamma rays
US5880469A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Mar 9, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N23/09
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus and method for discriminating against neutrons coming from directions other than a preferred direction and discriminating against gamma rays. Two photomultiplier (PM) tubes 9,10 are parallel to each other and are attached to one end of a light pipe 12. A neutron scintillator 13 is attached to the other end of the light pipe. The scintillator 13 is comprised of optical fibers arranged contiguously along a first direction, which is perpendicular to a length dimension of the optical fibers, and which optical fibers alternate between optical fibers which emit photons only in the lower portion of the electromagnetic spectrum and optical fibers which emit photons only in the higher portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Typically, the optical fibers are about 100-250 microns. Filters 7,8 are between the PM tubes and the light pipe. One filter 7 transmits only photons in the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum and the other filter 8 transmits only photons in the higher portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Neutrons proceeding from a source which is parallel to the first direction will tend to cause only one optical fiber to emit photons. If neutrons enter the scintill…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.