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
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.
Previous Work
Combining Technologies
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
GEM
F. Sauli,GEM:anewconceptforelectronamplificationingasdetectors, Nucl.Instrum.Meth.A386(1997)531.
Thermal Neutron Detection