Neutron detection
View Patent ↗In some embodiments, an electron multiplier includes a neutron-sensitive composition having, in weight percent, approximately 30% to approximately 60% silicon oxide, approximately 20% to approximately 60% lead oxide, and approximately 1% to approximately 15% boron-10 enriched boron oxide. The composition is capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade. The electron multiplier can be in the form of a microchannel plate, a microfiber plate, or a microsphere plate.
1. An electron multiplier comprising:
a neutron-sensitive composition comprising, in weight percent,
approximately 30% to approximately 60% silicon oxide,
approximately 20% to approximately 60% lead oxide, and
approximately 4% to approximately 15% boron-10 enriched boron oxide,
the composition capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
2. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
3. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of bismuth oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
4. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of calcium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
5. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of cesium oxide less than approximately 8 weight percent.
6. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of magnesium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
7. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from approximately 2 weight percent to approximately 40 weight percent of barium oxide.
8. The electron multiplier of claim 7 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of arsenic oxide less than approximately 1 weight percent, a non-zero amount of bismuth oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of calcium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of cesium oxide less than approximately 8 weight percent, a non-zero amount of magnesium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of rubidium oxide less than approximately 1 weight percent, and a non-zero amount of antimony oxide less than approximately 1 weight percent.
9. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , in the form of a microchannel plate.
10. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , in the form of a microfiber plate.
11. The electron multiplier of claim 1 , in the form of a microsphere plate.
12. A method, comprising:
contacting a neutron-sensitive composition with neutrons, the composition comprising, in weight percent,
approximately 30% to approximately 60% silicon oxide,
approximately 20% to approximately 60% lead oxide, and
approximately 4% to approximately 15% boron-10 enriched boron oxide,
detecting a signal resulting from the contact of the neutrons with the composition.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the composition comprises from approximately 2 weight percent to approximately 40 weight percent of barium oxide.
14. An electron multiplier, comprising:
a neutron-sensitive composition comprising, in weight percent,
approximately 20% to approximately 40% silicon oxide,
approximately 25% to approximately 40% lead oxide,
approximately 5% to approximately 10% boron-10 enriched boron oxide, and
approximately 4% to approximately 12% gadolinium oxide,
the composition capable of interacting with neutrons to form an electron cascade.
15. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
16. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of titanium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
17. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of bismuth oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
18. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of calcium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
19. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of cesium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
20. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition comprises from approximately 2 weight percent to approximately 10 weight percent of barium oxide.
21. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , wherein the composition further comprises a non-zero amount of aluminum oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, from approximately 2 weight percent to approximately 10 weight percent barium oxide, a non-zero amount of bismuth oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of calcium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of cesium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent, a non-zero amount of potassium oxide less than approximately 2 weight percent, a non-zero amount of lithium oxide less than approximately 1 weight percent, a non-zero amount of magnesium oxide less than approximately 1 weight percent, a non-zero amount of sodium oxide less than approximately 2 weight percent, and a non-zero amount of titanium oxide less than approximately 5 weight percent.
22. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , in the form of a microchannel plate.
23. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , in the form of a microfiber plate.
24. The electron multiplier of claim 14 , in the form of a microsphere plate.
25. A method, comprising:
contacting a neutron-sensitive composition with neutrons, the composition comprising, in weight percent,
approximately 20% to approximately 40% silicon oxide,
approximately 25% to approximately 40% lead oxide,
approximately 5% to approximately 10% boron-10 enriched boron oxide, and
approximately 4% to approximately 12% gadolinium oxide; and
detecting a signal resulting from the contact of the neutrons with the composition.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the composition comprises from approximately 2 weight percent to approximately 40 weight percent of barium oxide.