Next Generation in Detection Materials Processing

Three nuclides are especially useful in detecting thermalized neutrons: helium-3, lithium-6 , and boron-10. Since current demand will deplete reserves of helium-3 in roughly two years, there is a large desire to develop detectors that have the capacity to replace helium-3 tubes. In this proposal we spell out our plan to adapt Neotron''s already developed fission neutron detector into a high efficiency, low background thermal neutron detector which can compete in cost and efficiency with traditional helium-3 tubes in upcoming years. In this Phase 1 proposal we explore the new methods of materials processing of lithium-6 and boron-10 in order to use them in gas scintillating chambers. We will create a small prototype chamber and perform efficiency tests on small samples of lithium-6 and boron-10 film within the chamber to evaluate the quality of the various films as thermal neutron detectors. The end result is to identify the optimal material, electrode, chamber design, and readout choices, which we will then use to construct a field testable detector.