TF DHS RTA04 2011

A Boron Impregnated RTHGEM Large Scale Thermal Neutron Detector

RFP

HSHQDC-11-R-00050

RTA-04: Novel Large Area (up to square meter) Detection Approaches

Solicitation Number: BAA11-101

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=d7c6a8da03d750088c1bcad8e4fec88e&tab=core&tabmode=list&print_preview=1

2.4 RTA-04: Novel Large Area (up to square meter) Detection Approaches

Approaches to scale detector materials and associated read-out electronics to create large areas to support both active and passive sensing of nuclear and radiological materials. In addition to large area (up to square meter scale), proposed concepts must also achieve high absolute efficiency, good to high resolution (< 3% at 662 keV), fast response, large bandwidth (count-rate range) and reasonable cost [< $100,000/m2]. Proposed research should emphasize one or more of the following applications and have performance that is optimized for that application: passive sensing for use in portal-like applications, passive sensing for long-range detection applications (e.g. as a back plane for gamma ray imaging), and/or active sensing for use in either high energy non-intrusive inspection or active interrogation concepts. Proposed approaches using tiling should avoid elements < 25cm x 25 cm. Proposals must clearly explain (with supporting documentation, data, simulations, analytic calculations, and references) how the proposed approach will reduce cost and complexity in a large detector system without sacrificing overall detection performance.

White Paper

Introduction

A large area gaseous detector containing thick gas electron multipliers constructed using Boron impregnated resistive paste may provide a robust method for thermal neutron detection in both passive monitoring or active interrogation inspections. Thermal neutron detection efficiencies approaching 50% have been demonstrated with similar devices. Adapting this technology to a thick gas electron multiplier facilitates the production of large scale devices based on simple PC board technologies. The costs of producing gas electron multipliers using PC boards coated with resistive paste is substantially reduced facilitating their use as large array detectors.

Cost reduction

He-3 costs

PC boards cheaper to mass produce than fragile etched flex circuits.

References

RTGEM

https://wiki.iac.isu.edu/images/0/03/2010_INST_5_P03002.pdf

https://wiki.iac.isu.edu/images/f/f9/Jinst8_02_p02012_THGEM_spark.pdf

Media:Development and First Tests of GEM-Like Detectors With Resistive Electrodes.pdf

https://wiki.iac.isu.edu/images/e/ec/Development_and_First_Tests_of_GEM-Like_Detectors_With_Resistive_Electrodes.pdf

GEM

F. Sauli,GEM:A New Concept for Electron Amplification in Gas Detectors,

File:Sauli NIMA386 1997 531.pdf F. Sauli, et al, NIM A386, (1997) 531-534

Thermal Neutron Detection

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1006.1706

CASCADE detector

VCI2010 - Vienna Conference on Instrumentation 2010, February 15-20th, 2010, University of Technology, Vienna, Austria. File:CASCADE N-detector VCI 2010.pdf

http://www.physi.uni-heidelberg.de/Forschung/ANP/Cascade/inc/snsposter.pdf

MHz readout rate