The Development of a n-type GaN Fast Neutron Spectrometer that is also “Gamma-Blind”

ORAL

Abstract

GaN has attracted a good deal of interest in recent years as an attractive scintillation material based on both its intrinsic electronic and light-emitting properties and its response to a variety of differing types of energetic ionizing radiation and have led to a number of studies devoted to the understanding and practical use of GaN devices for radiation detectors. Some of these studies have focused on the potential use of GaN for thermal neutron detection via the incorporation of nuclides that have large thermal-neutron capture cross sections like: 6Li, 10B or 155,157 Gd. We have demonstrated for the first time that fast recoil Ga and N ions produced via neutron elastic scattering a fast neutron spectrum related to the energy and intensity of various neutron beams can be obtained for energy and flux determination and in characterizing the fast neutron source. Such a device can have an impact in the areas of: nuclear physics studies, monitoring of nuclear reactor and nuclear materials (in a covert and overt manner), radiation health physics for both area and personnel monitoring and medical applications under therapy conditions where fast neutrons can be emitted as by-products of the incident beam with the patient and surroundings.

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Authors

  • Noel A. Guardala

    Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site

  • Shahab Derakhshan

    Drexel University, Univ of Delaware, Princeton University, Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Georgetown Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Deleware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada-Reno, university of Delaware, Contributors, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University, Choice Research Group, Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, Rutgers Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Chemistry, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, Bucknell University, Towson University, University of Maryland, College of William and Mary, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Villanova University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brescia, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Potsdam, Delaware State University DE, NIH Bethesda MD, Wilmington Friends School DE, University Of Rochester NY, Delaware State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy,West Virginia University, The National Energy Technology Laboratory, Non-tenure track professor at research institution, Government Sponsored Laboratory, Research and Development at Industrial Company, Tenure-track Professor at 4 yr college, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lehigh Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ, NIST, GMU, GWU, Lock Haven University of PA, Univ of Maryland-Balt County; Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Univ of Maryland-Balt County, Pennsylvania State University, BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire 03061, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6315, California State University, Long Beach

  • Shahab Derakhshan

    Drexel University, Univ of Delaware, Princeton University, Naval Surface Warfare Center\Carderock Division\West Bethesda site, Naval Surface Warfare Center and Georgetown Univ., Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Delaware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Deleware, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nevada-Reno, university of Delaware, Contributors, Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences, Towson University, Choice Research Group, Univ of the Sciences in Philadephia, Rutgers Univ, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Chemistry, West Chester University, West Chester, PA 19383, Bucknell University, Towson University, University of Maryland, College of William and Mary, Naval Research Laboratory, Department of Physics, Villanova University, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brescia, Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Potsdam, Delaware State University DE, NIH Bethesda MD, Wilmington Friends School DE, University Of Rochester NY, Delaware State University, Department of Physics and Astronomy,West Virginia University, The National Energy Technology Laboratory, Non-tenure track professor at research institution, Government Sponsored Laboratory, Research and Development at Industrial Company, Tenure-track Professor at 4 yr college, Department of Physics and Astronomy and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Delaware, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Department of Physics and Astronomy, The University of Tennessee, Biology and Soft Matter Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lehigh Univ, Johns Hopkins Univ, NIST, GMU, GWU, Lock Haven University of PA, Univ of Maryland-Balt County; Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Univ of Maryland-Balt County, Pennsylvania State University, BAE Systems, Inc., Nashua, New Hampshire 03061, Department of Physics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506-6315, California State University, Long Beach