Thermal-neutron detection based on the Gas Electron Multiplier

Thermal-neutron detection based on the Gas Electron Multiplier

Van Vuure, T.L.

Van Eijk, C.W.E. (promotor)

Interfaculty Reactor Institute

2004-12-15

Future high luminosity spallation neutron sources put strenuous demands on detector performance. This research has focused on applying the Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) to meet most criteria, most notably mm spatial resolution, 1 MHz local countrate (per pixel) and 70% efficiency for 0.18 nm neutrons. The choice for this detector type was made based on the advantages in both local and global countrate the GEM has over wire-based detectors, in part due to the possibility to implement a 2D pixel readout. Because the high required spatial resolution implies working at a high partial pressure of stopping gas in a He-3 filled detector, the behaviour of the GEM at high pressure was investigated in a series of possible stop gases. One of these gas mixtures (xenon-trimethylamine or Xe/TMA) allows operation at a high enough gas gain with a proposed 1D prototype with 1 mm spatial resolution, which is ready for construction complete with readout electronics.

radiation detector
neutron detector
x-ray detector
gaseous detector
gas-filled detector
position-sensitive detector
gas electron multiplier

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:bc997ad4-8aa3-497f-bcee-e4a62b5dcc9a

DUP Science

90-407-2561-6

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

(c) 2004 T.L. van Vuure