Novel Boron based multilayer thermal neutron detector

Thin layers of composite material, natural boron and boron carbide (B ₄C) with natural abundance of ¹⁰B, mixed with binder were used as thermal neutron convertors in a multilayer thermal neutron detector design. Plane metal electrodes of 4-100 cm² area were covered with thin (20-50 μm thick) layers of converter material and assembled in a 4-12 layers sandwich configuration, also with a pixel structure. High voltage was applied to metal electrodes to create in an interspacing electric field. The spacing volume could be filled with air, nitrogen or argon. Thermal neutrons were captured in converter layers due to the presence of 10B. The resulting nuclear reaction produced a-particles and 7Li ions which ionized the gas in the spacing volume. Electron-ion pairs were collected by the field to create an electrical signal.