Bodie C S, Barnett A M
Space Research Group, Sch. of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QT, UK.
Space Research Group, Sch. of Mathematical and Physical Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QT, UK; Sch. of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
Appl Radiat Isot. 2024 Oct;212:111430. doi: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111430. Epub 2024 Jul 8.
A custom Monte Carlo (MC) computer model was developed to simulate thermal neutron absorption in, and subsequent photon and electron emission from, natural Gd with a view to using the material as a neutron conversion layer for neutron detectors. The MC code also modelled photon and electron detection with two dissimilar detectors: a thick (500 μm) single crystal diamond detector; and a thin (5.15 μm) commercial off the shelf (COTS) 4H-SiC photodiode detector. The detectors' quantum detection efficiencies (QE) for hard X-rays and γ-rays were relatively low in comparison to their QE for electrons, thus making it possible to collect electron spectra from the Gd layer neutron conversion products which were not overwhelmed by photon emissions from the Gd. The MC code was utilised to determine the optimal thickness of Gd for the efficient detection of a thermal neutron flux. These radiation hard and spectroscopic detectors paired with natural Gd could find utility as robust and compact thermal neutron detectors for nuclear science and engineering, space science, and other applications.
开发了一种定制的蒙特卡罗（MC）计算机模型，以模拟天然钆对热中子的吸收以及随后的光子和电子发射，目的是将该材料用作中子探测器的中子转换层。该MC代码还对使用两种不同探测器进行光子和电子探测进行了建模：一个厚（500μm）的单晶金刚石探测器；以及一个薄（5.15μm）的商用现货（COTS）4H-SiC光电二极管探测器。与它们对电子的量子探测效率（QE）相比，探测器对硬X射线和γ射线的量子探测效率相对较低，因此有可能收集来自钆层中子转换产物的电子能谱，而不会被钆的光子发射所淹没。利用该MC代码确定钆的最佳厚度，以有效探测热中子通量。这些抗辐射且具有光谱分析功能的探测器与天然钆配对，可作为用于核科学与工程、空间科学及其他应用的坚固紧凑的热中子探测器。
