The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 10, 2015
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2012
David J. Best, Huntsville, AL (US);
Daniel T. Wakeford, Pembroke, CA;
Hugh Robert Andrews, Pembroke, CA;
Harry Ing, Deep River, CA;
Marius Facina, Deep River, CA;
Michael Dick, Pembroke, CA;
David J. Best, Huntsville, AL (US);
Daniel T. Wakeford, Pembroke, CA;
Hugh Robert Andrews, Pembroke, CA;
Harry Ing, Deep River, CA;
Marius Facina, Deep River, CA;
Michael Dick, Pembroke, CA;
SCI Technology, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US);
Bubble Technologies Industries Inc., Chalk River, Ontario, CA;
Abstract
A gas avalanche neutron detector (GAND) filled with counting gas for detecting thermal neutrons or neutron radiation without the use of a conventional proportional counter is provided. The GAND may include a layer of thermalization material, a cathode having a face with a layer of material, exhibiting neutron capture followed by charged particle emission such as Boron-10, a microstructure amplifier, and an anode. Thermal neutrons may enter the detector and interact with the material on the face of the cathode producing alpha particles. The alpha particles may ionize the counting gas inside the detector and produce ionization electrons. The cathode, microstructure amplifier and anode may have voltages applied that create electric fields that cause the ionization electrons to drift toward the microstructure amplifier. The microstructure then accelerates the electrons causing an avalanche effect within the gas and provides an amplification of the signal dramatically increasing neutron detection sensitivity.