Thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer utilizing a single material

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638813-B2
Application number	US-201514871162-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2015
Priority date	Oct 23, 2012
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, including: a detection medium including a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode; and a photodetector coupled to the detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays. Optionally, the detection medium includes a 6 LiInSe 2 crystal. Optionally, the detection medium comprises a compound formed by the process of: melting a Group III element; adding a Group I element to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Group I and Group III elements to react thereby providing a single phase I-III compound; and adding a Group VI element to the single phase I-III compound and heating; wherein the Group I element includes lithium.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, comprising:
a detection medium comprising a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode; and
a photodetector coupled to the detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection medium comprises a 6 LiInSe 2 crystal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector comprises one of a Si Avalanche Photodiode (APD) and a Si Photomultiplier (SiPM).

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a bias voltage source coupled to the detection medium.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of contacts coupled to the detection medium.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an amplification system.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a data collection and processing device.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection medium comprises a I-III-VI 2 compound formed by the process of:
melting a Group III element;
subsequently adding a Group I element to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Group I and Group III elements to react thereby providing a single phase I-III compound; and
subsequently adding a Group VI element to the single phase I-III compound and heating;
wherein the Group I element comprises lithium.

9. A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer method, comprising:
providing a detection medium comprising a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode; and
providing a photodetector coupled to the detection medium also operable for detecting the gamma rays.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the detection medium comprises a 6 LiInSe 2 crystal.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the photodetector comprises one of a Si Avalanche Photodiode (APD) and a Si Photomultiplier (SiPM).

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a bias voltage source coupled to the detection medium.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a plurality of contacts coupled to the detection medium.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing an amplification system.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising a data collection and processing device.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the detection medium comprises a I-III-VI 2 compound formed by the process of:
melting a Group III element;
subsequently adding a Group I element to the melted Group III element at a rate that allows the Group I and Group III elements to react thereby providing a single phase I-III compound; and
subsequently adding a Group VI element to the single phase I-III compound and heating;

wherein the Group I element comprises lithium.

17. A combined thermal neutron detector and gamma-ray spectrometer system, comprising:
a detection medium comprising a lithium chalcopyrite crystal operable for detecting thermal neutrons in a semiconductor mode and gamma-rays in a scintillator mode;
an electrical contact disposed adjacent to an initial surface of the detection medium operable for detecting the thermal neutrons in an initial layer of the detection medium; and
a photodetector coupled to a subsequent surface of the detection medium operable for detecting the gamma rays in a subsequent layer of the detection medium.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the detection medium comprises a 6 LiInSe 2 crystal.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the photodetector comprises one of a Si Avalanche Photodiode (APD) and a Si Photomultiplier (SiPM).

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the electrical contact utilizes a grid pattern defining a plurality of gaps.

21. The system of claim 17 , wherein the initial layer comprises the initial 5 mm of the detection medium and the subsequent layer comprises the remainder of the detection medium.

Assignees

• Stowe Ashley
• Burger Arnold
• Lukosi Eric
• Cons Nuclear Security Llc
• Fisk Univ
• Univ Tennessee Res Found

Inventors

• Stowe Ashley
• Burger Arnold
• Lukosi Eric

Classifications

• C30B11/06 Primary

  at least one but not all components of the crystal composition being added · CPC title

• C30B11/12

  Vaporous components, e.g. vapour-liquid-solid-growth · CPC title

• G01T1/362

  with scintillation detectors · CPC title

• G01T3/08

  with semiconductor detectors · CPC title

• C30B29/46

  Sulfur-, selenium- or tellurium-containing compounds · CPC title