The Department of Energys large research facilities need improved neutron detectors for thermal neutron instrumentation. Where large detector arrays are needed, single-wire overpressured 3He tube detectors are the detector of choice, because they are so cost effective. Though useful, current detectors do not meet the demands of current high intensity neutron sources, such as the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The major limitations of these detectors are poor position resolution along the wire and saturation of the tube when a high flux of neutrons is detected. This project will develop an innovative Spiral Particle Detector design to address these two limitations and provide a simple replacement for the wire in 3He tube detectors, with only a small addition to the cost.
Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: In addition to the market for DOE facilities, the new neutron detector should find applications at laboratories of other federal agencies (such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security), and in medical imaging, nuclear materials detection, and non-destructive evaluation
