Neutron and gamma radiation detector using a water cherenkov detector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022011453-A1
Application number	US-202017429260-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2020
Priority date	Feb 6, 2019
Publication date	Jan 13, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

A detector of thermal neutrons, fast neutrons and gamma photons that is based on a Cherenkov radiation detector in water and that allows large active volumes of detection at a relatively low cost and higher intensity signals, wherein said detector comprises a container comprising at least a lid; a photon reflective and diffusive coating inside the container; an aqueous solution contained in the container, which comprises sodium chloride (NaCl); and a light sensing device optically coupled to the aqueous solution.

First claim

1 . A detector of thermal neutrons, fast neutrons and gamma photons, comprising:
a container comprising at least one lid; a photon reflective and diffusive coating inside the container; an aqueous solution contained in the container, comprising sodium chloride (NaCl); and a light sensing device optically coupled to the aqueous solution.

2 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the material of the container and the at least one lid is independently selected from the group comprising metallic materials, polymeric materials and composite materials.

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the container has a geometric shape selected from the group comprising cylindrical, cubic, parallelepiped shapes having rectangular or spherical base.

7 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the container is external light-tight.

8 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one lid is external light-tight and can be operated between an open position and a closed position.

9 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light sensing device is selected from the group comprising a photomultiplier tube, a silicon photomultiplier, a CMOS sensor and a CCD sensor.

10 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises between 0.5% and 36% by mass of NaCl.

11 . The detector according to claim 10 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises between 2% and 25% by mass of NaCl.

12 . The detector according to claim 11 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises between 3% and 15% by mass of NaCl.

13 . The detector according to claim 12 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises between 5% and 10% by mass of NaCl.

14 . The detector according to claim 13 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises 5% by mass of NaCl.

15 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution further comprises a high refractive index compound.

16 . The detector according to claim 15 , wherein the high refractive index compound is carbon disulfide (CS 2 ).

17 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein photon reflective and diffusive coating is a white high density polyethylene fabric.

18 . The detector according to claim 1 , it further comprising, inside the container, a plurality of optical fibers coupled to the light sensing device.

19 . The detector according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers are coupled to the light sensing device by optical grease.

20 . The detector according to claim 1 , wherein the light sensing device is secured to the at least one lid.

21 . The detector according to claim 18 , wherein the light sensing device is located outside the container, within another light-tight container or enclosure.

22 . The detector according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of optical fibers are Wave-Length shifting optical fibers.

23 . The detector according to claim 18 , wherein said plurality of optical fibers comprises seven optical fibers having circular section, one central and six on its periphery, of 1.25 mm in diameter each, placed at the center of the container.

Assignees

• Consejo Nacional De Investigaciones Cientificas Y Tecn Conicet
• Inis Biotech Llc
• Comision Nac De Energia Atomica Cnea

Inventors

• Gómez Berisso Mariano
• Blostein Juan J
• Lipovetzky José
• Pérez Martín
• Sidelnik Iván P
• Sofo Haro Miguel F
• Alcalde Bessia Fabricio P
• Arnaldi Luis H
• Asorey Hernán G

Classifications

• G01T3/008

  using an ionisation chamber filled with a gas, liquid or solid, e.g. frozen liquid, dielectric (G01T3/006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01T1/22 Primary

  with Cerenkov detectors · CPC title