Use of silicon surface-barrier detectors for neutron detection

The objects of this research to construct the necessary equipment for use with the solid stets surface-barrier detectors employed neutron detectors. This research also had the ultimate aim of showing the possibility of producing a neutron spectrometer using the proton recoil telescope with the surface-barrier detector. These objects were fulfilled. From the results with the protein recoil telescope, there is a possibility of producing a neutron spectrometer using the proton recoil telescope and surface-barrier detectors. However, if s thinner radiator were employed, the energy spread of the recoiling protons would be less end ultimately improve the resolution. The radiator in this trial had a large -dE/dx for protons and caused considerably straggling in the proton energy. Besides the straggling produced by the radiator there was some effect on energy spread by the collimator. A collimator with essentially an infinite number of baffles was used, since it consisted of a hole drilled through the collimator material. If the number of baffles were decreased, the possibility of protons being scattered from the collimator walls and benign detected, but at a lower energy, would be eliminated. With this batter collimation there will be a smaller solid angle and ultimately better resolution. Evacuating the chamber should also improve the resolution. Thus with some improvements, the present equipment could be changed into a neutron spectrometer with good energy resolution.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Year dc:date.issued

1961

Author dc:creator

• Fairburn, George Thomas

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53804

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53804