The present application relates to a detection structure for fast neutrons and a method for acquiring a neutron energy spectrum, the detection structure for fast neutrons comprises seven semiconductor detection units and a conversion layer made of a hydrogen-containing material, the seven semiconductor detection units comprise a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh semiconductor detection unit arranged sequentially, the first, the fourth and the seventh semiconductor detection unit constitute an anticoincidence detection group, the second and the third semiconductor detection unit constitute a neutral particle background detection group, the fifth and the sixth semiconductor detection unit constitute a recoil proton detection group, the conversion layer is disposed between the fourth and the fifth semiconductor detection unit, incident neutrons collision with hydrogen atomic nuclei and generate the recoil protons. The present application can effectively reduce influence of background signals on the measurement and improve accuracy of the inversed neutron energy spectrum.

The present application relates to a detection structure for fast neutrons and a method for acquiring a neutron energy spectrum, the detection structure for fast neutrons comprises seven semiconductor detection units and a conversion layer made of a hydrogen-containing material, the seven semiconductor detection units comprise a first, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh semiconductor detection unit arranged sequentially, the first, the fourth and the seventh semiconductor detection unit constitute an anticoincidence detection group, the second and the third semiconductor detection unit constitute a neutral particle background detection group, the fifth and the sixth semiconductor detection unit constitute a recoil proton detection group, the conversion layer is disposed between the fourth and the fifth semiconductor detection unit, incident neutrons collision with hydrogen atomic nuclei and generate the recoil protons. The present application can effectively reduce influence of background signals on the measurement and improve accuracy of the inversed neutron energy spectrum.

An inventive neutron detector includes an n-type GaN wafer and a photomultiplier, which are optically coupled with each other. The n-type GaN wafer is irradiated with neutrons from a neutron source, such as including a particle accelerator and a beryllium target. Scintillation of the n-type GaN resulting from the neutron irradiation is amplified by the photomultiplier and is analyzed using a data acquisition system.

A neutron spectrometer is provided to distinguish neutron capture events from other types of radiation in order to measure the energy associated with neutrons in a mixed radiation environment. The neutron spectrometer can include a neutron detector to capture neutrons and a controller to determine the energy associated with the captured neutrons. The neutron detector can include scintillating glass fibers embedded in a plastic scintillator. A photomultiplier tube can be positioned on each end of the detector to detect light pulses generated by both the scintillating glass fibers and the plastic scintillator. A controller can analyze the detected light pulses to determine when a neutron is captured and the energy associated with the neutron capture event.

A neutron detector system, with a detector having a pair of spaced diamond detector layers, sandwiched between outer silicon layers. In response to incident neutrons, the detector system measures pulse heights and response times, and from those measurements, calculates the carbon recoil energy and time of flight of scattered neutrons. This data is further used to calculate a direction cone, which represents the approximate angle of arrival of the incident neutron. These direction cones can be used to image neutron events.

A neutron detector system, with a detector having a pair of spaced diamond detector layers, sandwiched between outer silicon layers. In response to incident neutrons, the detector system measures pulse heights and response times, and from those measurements, calculates the carbon recoil energy and time of flight of scattered neutrons. This data is further used to calculate a direction cone, which represents the approximate angle of arrival of the incident neutron. These direction cones can be used to image neutron events.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a neutron spectrometry system, comprising a plurality of semiconductor detector portions arranged in close proximity, wherein the detector portions are arranged in at least two non-parallel axes, wherein each detector portion is arranged to output a detection signal indicative of energy deposited in the detector portion by ionising particles induced in the device by incident neutrons, and a control unit arranged to receive the plurality of detection signals, and to allocate detection signals to one or more of a plurality of channels based on a number of substantially coincident detection signals for determining a spectrum of incident neutrons based thereon.

An energy-sensitive imaging detector for fast-neutrons includes energy-selective radiator foil stacks converting neutrons into recoil protons. The foils are separated by gas-filled gaps and formed of two interconnected layers: a hydrogen-rich layer such as a polyethylene layer for neutron-to-proton conversion, and a metal foil layer, such as an aluminum layer, defining a proton energy cut-off and limiting a proton emission angle. Energetic recoil protons emerging from the radiator foil release electrons in surrounding gas in the gaps. An electric field efficiently drifts the electrons through the gaps. An electron detector with position sensitive readout, based on Micro-Pattern Gaseous Detector technologies (such as THick Gaseous Electron MultipliersTHGEM) or other measures provides electron amplification in gas. The charge detector has a dedicated imaging data-acquisition system detecting the drifted electrons thereby sensing the position of the original impinging neutrons.