Neutron detection by neutron capture-initiated relaxation of a ferroelectrically, ferromagnetically, and/or chemically metastable material
View Patent ↗A system for detecting radiation using an array of cells containing a metastable material together with sensing apparatus and display apparatus.
1. A system for detecting neutron radiation, comprising:
a metastable material having a density less than 2 g/cm 2 containing at least one of 10 B or 6 Li in a cell, wherein a disruption resulting from disintegration of the neutron absorbing atom leads to an easily detectable relaxation of a hysteretic property of the metastable material;
electrodes and circuitry comprising a detector for controlling and detecting a change in the state or polarization in the metastable material; and
at least one computer to control at least one detector for the setting thereof, the detection of a change in the metastable material, and the recording and display of information regarding the metastable material.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises a ferroelectric material having hysteresis in its electrical polarization as a function of an applied electric field.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises a ferromagnetic material having hysteresis in its magnetic polarization as a function of an applied magnetic field.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises a paramagnetic material having hysteresis in its magnetic polarization as a function of an applied magnetic field.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material having hysteresis in its magnetic polarization as a function of temperature.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises one of a ferromagnetic material having hysteresis in a magnetic polarization thereof, a paramagnetic material having hysteresis in the magnetic polarization thereof, and a ferroelectric material having hysteresis in an electrical polarization thereof.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the metastable material comprises one of a ferromagnetic material having hysteresis in conductivity thereof as a function of the temperature thereof, and a paramagnetic material having hysteresis in conductivity thereof as a function of the temperature thereof.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one computer is connected to a plurality of detectors for a plurality of cells.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
an alarm connected to the at least one computer activated when a reaction has occurred in a predetermined number of the plurality of cells of metastable material.
10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
a wireless connection apparatus connecting the at least one computer to the plurality of detectors.