Download or read book Fabrication of Cost effective Solid state Neutron Detectors and Characterization written by Jia-Woei Wu and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 214 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Fabrication and Characterization of a Novel Self powered Solid state Neutron Detector written by Jacky Huang and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Advanced Microstructured Semiconductor Neutron Detectors written by Steven Lawrence Bellinger and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The microstructured semiconductor neutron detector (MSND) was investigated and previous designs were improved and optimized. In the present work, fabrication techniques have been refined and improved to produce three-dimensional microstructured semiconductor neutron detectors with reduced leakage current, reduced capacitance, highly anisotropic deep etched trenches, and increased signal-to-noise ratios. As a result of these improvements, new MSND detection systems function with better gamma-ray discrimination and are easier to fabricate than previous designs. In addition to the microstructured diode fabrication improvement, a superior batch processing backfill-method for 6LiF neutron reactive material, resulting in a nearly-solid backfill, was developed. This method incorporates a LiF nano-sizing process and a centrifugal batch process for backfilling the nanoparticle LiF material. To better transition the MSND detector to commercialization, the fabrication process was studied and enhanced to better facilitate low cost and batch process MSND production. The research and development of the MSND technology described in this work includes fabrication of variant microstructured diode designs, which have been simulated through MSND physics models to predict performance and neutron detection efficiency, and testing the operational performance of these designs in regards to neutron detection efficiency, gamma-ray rejection, and silicon fabrication methodology. The highest thermal-neutron detection efficiency reported to date for a solid-state semiconductor detector is presented in this work. MSNDs show excellent neutron to gamma-ray (n/[gamma]) rejection ratios, which are on the order of 106, without significant loss in thermal-neutron detection efficiency. Individually, the MSND is intrinsically highly sensitive to thermal neutrons, but not extrinsically sensitive because of their small size. To improve upon this, individual MSNDs were tiled together into a 6x6-element array on a single silicon chip. Individual elements of the array were tested for thermal-neutron detection efficiency and for the n/[gamma] reject ratio. Overall, because of the inadequacies and costs of other neutron detection systems, the MSND is the premier technology for many neutron detection applications.

Download or read book Development of Wide Bandgap Solid state Neutron Detectors written by Andrew Geier Melton and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this work novel solid-state neutron detectors based on Gallium Nitride (GaN) have been produced and characterized. GaN is a radiation hard semiconductor which is commonly used in commercial optoelectronic devices. The important design consideration for producing GaN-based neutron detectors have been examined, and device simulations performed. Scintillators and p-i-n diode-type neutron detectors have been grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and characterized. GaN was found to be intrinsically neutron sensitive through the Nitrogen-14 (n, p) reaction. Neutron conversion layers which produce secondary ionizing radiation were also produced and evaluated. GaN scintillator response was found to scale highly linearly with nuclear reactor power, indicating that GaN-based detectors are suitable for use in the nuclear power industry. This work is the first demonstration of using GaN for neutron detection. This is a novel application for a mature semiconductor material. The results presented here provide a proof-of-concept for solid-state GaN-based neutron detectors which offer many potential advantages over the current state-of-the-art, including lower cost, lower power operation, and mechanical robustness. At present Helium-3 proportional counters are the preferred technology for neutron detection, however this isotope is extremely rare, and there is a global shortage. Meanwhile demand for neutron detectors from the nuclear power, particle physics, and homeland security sectors requires development of novel neutron detectors which are which are functional, cost-effective, and deployable.

Download or read book Design and Fabrication of a Novel Self powered Solid state Neutron Detector written by Nicholas LiCausi and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 230 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Optimization and Characterization of a Novel Self Powered Solid State Neutron Detector written by Justin Clinton and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Development of a Neutron Diffraction System and Neutron Imaging System for Beamport Characterization written by Troy Casey Unruh and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Semiconductor neutron detector design, fabrication and testing are all performed at Kansas State University (KSU). The most prevalent neutron detectors built by the KSU Semiconductor Materials And Radiological Technologies Laboratory (SMART Lab) are comprised of silicon diodes with [superscript]6LiF as a neutron converter material. Neutron response testing and calibration of the detectors is performed in a neutron detector test facility. The facility utilizes diffraction with a pyrolytic graphite (PG) monochromator to produce a diffracted neutron beam at the northwest beamport of the KSU Training Research Isotope production General Atomics (TRIGA) Mark-II nuclear reactor. A 2-D neutron beam monitor can also be used in conjunction with the test facility for active calibrations. Described in the following work are the design, construction and operation of a neutron detector test facility and a 2-D neutron detection array. The diffracted neutron beam at the detector test facility has been characterized to yield a neutron beam with an average Gaussian energy of 0.0253 eV. The diffracted beam yields a flux of 1.2x10[superscript]4 neutrons/cm[superscript]2/s at 100 kW of reactor power. The PG monochromator is diffracting on the (002) plane that has been positioned at a Bragg angle of 15.5 degrees. The 2-D neutron detection array has been characterized for uniform pixel response and uniform neutron detection efficiency. The 2-D 5x5 array of neutron detectors with a neutron detection efficiency of approximately 0.5 percent has been used as a beam monitor when performing detector testing. The amplifier circuits for the 5x5 array were designed at the KSU Electronics Design Lab (EDL) and were coupled to a LabVIEW field-programmable gate array that is read out by a custom LabVIEW virtual instrument. The virtual instrument has been calibrated to produce a pixel response that varies by less than two percent from pixel to pixel. The array has been used for imaging and active monitoring of the diffracted neutron beam at the detector test facility. The following work is part of on-going research to develop various types of solid state semiconductor neutron detectors.

Download or read book Modeling and Analysis of a Portable Solid state Neutron Detection System for Spectroscopic Applications written by Thomas Michael Oakes and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This paper discusses a new neutron detection system that allows local volumetric identification of fast neutron thermalization in the context of forming a solid state Bonner-like neutron spectrometer. The resulting departure and subsequent improvement from the classical Bonner spectrometer is that the entire moderating volume is sampled locally for thermal neutrons. Such volumetric resolution is possible through the layering of weakly perturbing and pixilated high thermal efficiency solid state neutron detectors into a cylindrically symmetric neutron moderator. The overall system exhibits >10% total detection efficiency over the neutron energy range from thermal to 20 MeV and the data can be acquired simultaneously from all detector elements in a single measurement. These measurements can be used to infer information on incident neutron energy spectra and direction, which provides capabilities not available in current systems. The end result is a highly efficient, man-portable device with significantly improved methods for determination of pervading neutron energy spectra and the corresponding dose equivalent.

Download or read book Design of Solid State Neutron Detectors Using Geant4 Simulation written by Manoj Kumar Parida and published by . This book was released on 2023-12-15 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Roadmap for High Efficiency Solid State Neutron Detectors written by T. Wang and published by . This book was released on 2005 with total page 11 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Solid-state thermal neutron detectors are generally fabricated in a planar configuration by coating a layer of neutron-to-alpha converter material onto a semiconductor. The as-created alpha particles in the material are expected to impinge the semiconductor and create electron-hole pairs which provide the electrical signal. These devices are limited in efficiency to a range near (2-5%)/cm{sup 2} due to the conflicting thickness requirements of the converter layer. In this case, the layer is required to be thick enough to capture the incoming neutron flux while at the same time adequately thin to allow the alpha particles to reach the semiconductor. A three dimensional matrix structure has great potential to satisfy these two requirements in one device. Such structures can be realized by using PIN diode pillar elements to extend in the third dimension with the converter material filling the rest of the matrix. Our strategy to fabricate this structure is based on both ''top-down'' and ''bottom-up'' approaches. The ''top down'' approach employs high-density plasma etching techniques, while the ''bottom up'' approach draws on the growth of nanowires by chemical vapor deposition. From our simulations for structures with pillar diameters from 2 {micro}m down to 100 nm, the detector efficiency is expected to increase with a decrease in pillar size. Moreover, in the optimized configuration, the detector efficiency could be higher than 75%/cm{sup 2}. Finally, the road map for the relationship between detector diameter and efficiency will be outlined.

Download or read book Development of A Self Biased High Efficiency Solid State Neutron Detector for MPACT Applications written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Neutron detection is an important aspect of materials protection, accounting, and control for transmutation (MPACT). Currently He-3 filled thermal neutron detectors are utilized in many applications; these detectors require high-voltage bias for operation, which complicates the system when multiple detectors are used. In addition, due to recent increase in homeland security activity and the nuclear renaissance, there is a shortage of He-3, and these detectors become more expensive. Instead, cheap solid-state detectors that can be mass produced like any other computer chips will be developed. The new detector does not require a bias for operation, has low gamma sensitivity, and a fast response. The detection system is based on a honeycomb-like silicon device, which is filled with B-10 as the neutron converter; while a silicon p-n diode (i.e., solar cell type device) formed on the thin silicon wall of the honeycomb structure detects the energetic charged particles emitted from the B-10 conversion layer. Such a detector has ~40% calculated thermal neutron detection efficiency with an overall detector thickness of about 200?m. Stacking of these devices allows over 90% thermal neutron detection efficiency. The goal of the proposed research is to develop a high-efficiency, low-noise, self-powered solid-state neutron detector system based on the promising results of the existing research program. A prototype of this solid-state neutron detector system with sufficient detector size (up to 8-inch diam., but still portable and inexpensive) and integrated with interface electronics (e.g., preamplifier) will be designed, fabricated, and tested as a coincidence counter for MPACT applications. All fabrications proposed are based on silicon-compatible processing; thus, an extremely cheap detector system could be massively produced like any other silicon chips. Such detectors will revolutionize current neutron detection systems by providing a solid-state alternative to traditional gas-based neutron detectors.

Download or read book Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Boron and Gadolinium Rich Power Generation and Real time Neutron Detection Materials and Devices written by Marcus L. Natta and published by ProQuest. This book was released on 2008 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Simulation and Validation of Charge Carrier Drift in Pixelated Microstructured Semiconductor Neutron Detectors written by Diego Laramore and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A semiconductor neutron imaging device is proposed (X-MSND) based on high efficiency, Micro-structured Semiconductor Neutron Detector (MSNDs) bump bonded onto a Timepix pixelated readout chip. The device serves as a combined neutron and photon imager with a 256x256 pixel array, using per-pixel time-over-threshold (ToT) energy deposition. The X-MSND design has produced thermal neutron detection efficiency of 14%, significantly greater than the theoretical maximum of less than 5% for planar devices. Simulated pixel clusters showed similar qualitative characteristics as planar neutron sensitive Timepix hybrid detectors. A workflow for simulating the semiconductor physics, ionization by radiation, and charge carrier transport for micro-structured sensors in general has been devised and described in this work. The simulation workflow began by steady state initial conditions of the X-MSND PIN diode sensor at full bias using COMSOL Multiphysics. This simulation step served the combined purpose of providing the necessary electric field solutions used in charge transport, and provided necessary design and operating parameters for device fabrication. Radiation transport code Geant4 was used to simulate the radiation detection characteristics of the sensor: thermal neutron detection efficiency, energy deposition per detection event, and the location of the ionized charge cloud per interaction are all calculated at this step. Dassault SolidWorks was used to generate Computer-Assisted Drafting (CAD) models of the full micro-structured device geometry, which was then converted and imported into a format that can be interpreted by Geant4 for the radiation transport. Geant4 can then interface directly with a modified version of Allpix^2 to perform charge carrier drift over the entire X-MSND geometry. Fabricated X-MSND devices were tested and evaluated at Kansas State University (KSU), and were found capable of producing high quality radiographs with both X-rays and neutrons. The fabrication of functioning X-MSND/Timepix assemblies was a collaborative effort among several research groups at KSU, domestic and international industrial partners, and international research groups. Fabrication of the X-MSND sensors was performed largely by Radiation Detection Technologies, Inc., with parametric design support from the Radiological System Integration Laboratory (RSIL) and Radiological Engineering Analysis Laboratory (REAL). The processes used in the production of X-MSND sensors are conventional micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) photolithography techniques; spin-on deposition and ultraviolet development of photoresist, metal lift-off, and wet etching of silicon are all used over the course of fabrication, and are described in detail. The Electronics Design Laboratory (EDL) of Kansas State University assisted in the design of custom printed circuit boards to which the X-MSND/Timepix assemblies are mounted. External to facilities located at KSU, various industrial manufacturing partners who specialize in Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) and micro-fabrication assembly processes were also contracted to perform the specialized assembly processes required in assembling the full X-MSND/Timepix systems.

Download or read book Method for Manufacturing Solid state Thermal Neutron Detectors with Simultaneous High Thermal Neutron Detection Efficiency 50 and Neutron to Gamma Discrimination 1 0E4 written by and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Methods for manufacturing solid-state thermal neutron detectors with simultaneous high thermal neutron detection efficiency (>50%) and neutron to gamma discrimination (>10.sup. 4) are provided. A structure is provided that includes a p+ region on a first side of an intrinsic region and an n+ region on a second side of the intrinsic region. The thickness of the intrinsic region is minimized to achieve a desired gamma discrimination factor of at least 1.0E+04. Material is removed from one of the p+ region or the n+ region and into the intrinsic layer to produce pillars with open space between each pillar. The open space is filed with a neutron sensitive material. An electrode is placed in contact with the pillars and another electrode is placed in contact with the side that is opposite of the intrinsic layer with respect to the first electrode.

Download or read book Energy Research Abstracts written by and published by . This book was released on 1990 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Compact Solid state Neutron Detector written by Abdelhak Bensaoula and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The structure and methods of fabricating a high efficiency compact solid state neutron detector based on III-Nitride semiconductor structures deposited on a substrate. The operation of the device is based on absorption of neutrons, which results in generation of free carriers.

Download or read book Nuclear Science Abstracts written by and published by . This book was released on 1976-06 with total page 1216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: