45
Solid-State Thermal-Neutron
Detector Based on Boron-Doped a-Se Stabilized Alloy Films--EIC Laboratories,
Inc.,
Dr. Krishna C. Mandal, Principal
Investigator, kmandal@eiclabs.com
Dr. R. David Rauth, Business
Official, drauth@eiclabs.com
DOE Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83640
Amount:
$100,000
For
the investigation of structural, magnetic, and acoustic properties of materials,
thermal neutrons have been proved to be the most useful probes. However,
currently available thermal neutron detectors, based on large gas counters or
scintillator-photomultiplier tubes, have limitations in detection efficiency,
stability of response, speed of operation, and physical size. This
project will construct a large-area, lightweight, high-resolution, and very fast
position sensitive thermal neutron detector based on B-doped a-Se (As, Cl)
stabilized alloy films. This new generation detector will offer high detection
efficiency over existing instruments. Phase
I will develop and optimize B-doped a-Se alloy films, fabricate the detector,
and develop performance evaluation techniques.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as described by awardee:
The new thermal neutron detector should have application to homeland
security, nuclear non-proliferation, nuclear physics research, radiation safety,
environmental monitoring, structural biology, protein dynamics, and the
monitoring of chemical and biological reactions in “real time”.