Neutron detection based on coincidence signal
A method includes detecting a neutron based on a time proximity of a first signal and a second signal. The first signal indicates detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray. The second signal indicates detection of a gamma ray.
1. A method comprising:
detecting a neutron based on a time proximity of a first signal and a second signal, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and
generating a detection signal indicating detection of a neutron if the second signal occurred within a specified time period after occurrence of the first signal.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the first signal using a microchannel plate detector.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating the second signal using a gamma ray detector.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining whether the second signal occurred within the specified time period after occurrence of the first signal.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the specified time period is less than 50 nanoseconds.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the specified time period is less than 10 nanoseconds.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the neutron comprises capturing the neutron using a boron-10 particle and generating alpha and lithium-7 particles.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting a neutron comprises detecting a gamma ray within less than 50 ns after a microchannel plate detector generates an output pulse indicating detection of a neutron or a gamma ray.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating the second signal upon detecting a 478 keV gamma ray.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the neutron comprises capturing the neutron using a first gadolinium particle and generating a second gadolinium particle, gamma rays, and beta particles.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first gadolinium particle comprises 155 Gd and the second gadolinium particle comprises 156 Gd.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first gadolinium particle comprises 157 Gd and the second gadolinium particle comprises 158 Gd.
13. A method comprising:
generating a first signal using a microchannel plate detector, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray;
generating a second signal using a gamma ray detector, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and
generating a third signal indicating that a neutron has been detected by the microchannel plate detector if the second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of the first signal.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising comparing a time difference between occurrence of the first signal and occurrence of the second signal.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein
microchannel plate detector comprises at least one of 10 B, 155 Gd, and 157 Gd.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the first signal comprises:
generating an alpha particle and a lithium-7 particle; and
inducing secondary electron emissions.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 50 nanoseconds.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein generating the first signal comprises generating a gadolinium particle, gamma rays, and beta particles.
19. An apparatus comprising:
a neutron detector to generate a detection signal indicating that a neutron has been detected, the neutron detector generating the detection signal if a second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of a first signal, the first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray, the second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the neutron detector comprises a microchannel plate detector that generates the first signal.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with boron-10.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with gadolinium.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the neutron detector comprises a gamma ray detector that generates the second signal.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the neutron detector comprises a signal processor that determines whether the second signal occurs within the specified time period after occurrence of the first signal.
25. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the specified time period is less than 50 nanoseconds.
26. The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the specified time period is less than 10 nanoseconds.
27. An apparatus comprising:
a microchannel plate detector to generate a first detection signal upon detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray;
a gamma ray detector to generate a second detection signal upon detection of a gamma ray; and
a signal processor to generate a third signal indicating a detection of a neutron upon receiving the first and second detection signals and determining that the second detection signal occurred within a predetermined period of time after occurrence of the first detection signal.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises glass doped with at least one of boron-10 and gadolinium.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the microchannel plate detector comprises a first particle that, upon capture of a neutron, generates a second particle in an excited state that subsequently decays to a lower energy state and emits a gamma ray.
30. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the gamma ray detector comprises a scintillator.
31. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 50 nanoseconds.
32. A method comprising:
generating a first signal indicating detection of at least one of a neutron and a gamma ray;
generating a second signal indicating detection of a gamma ray; and generating a detection signal indicating that a neutron has been detected if the second signal occurs within a predetermined time period after occurrence of the first signal.
33. The method of claim 32 , wherein generating the first signal comprises generating the first signal using a micro channel plate detector comprising at least one of 10 B, 155 Gd, and 157 Gd.