Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters
Autor(a) principal: | |
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Data de Publicação: | 2019 |
Outros Autores: | , , , |
Tipo de documento: | Artigo |
Idioma: | eng |
Título da fonte: | Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
Texto Completo: | http://hdl.handle.net/10773/37447 |
Resumo: | Due to its exceptional properties, 3He proportional counters are the golden standard for neutron detection, particularly in homeland security applications where large area detectors are deployed. However, in recent years 3He has become severely scarce, which led to a tremendous price increase and acquisition restrictions of this material. Motivated by this, the development of 3He-free solutions became a priority. In a previous work, we have established a novel concept for neutron detection: a proportional counter with boron carbide (B4C) fine powder suspended in the proportional gas, forming a neutron sensitive aerosol that relies on the 10B neutron capture reaction. Computer simulations and prototype exposure to a cold neutron beam yielded favorable results, validating the detection concept, which may also be applied to hard x-ray and gamma ray detection by using fine particles made of a heavy element, such as Bi or Au. In this work we study the effect of the presence of B4C microparticles in the charge gain and energy resolution of a proportional counter filled with Ar-CH4 (90%–10%), by irradiation with x-rays from a 55Fe source. For the same applied voltage, an average gain loss by a factor of 36% and energy resolution (FWHM) increase by 15% (absolute value) was observed with the inclusion of B4C microparticles. Intrinsic energy resolution was calculated, obtaining 15% for pure P10 operation and 32% in the presence of the microparticles. While the gain drop is recoverable by increasing anode voltage, energy resolution degradation may be a drawback in low energy applications, were energy resolution is favored over detection efficiency. |
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Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional countersProportional counterNeutron detectionGamma ray detection10BHe alternativeDue to its exceptional properties, 3He proportional counters are the golden standard for neutron detection, particularly in homeland security applications where large area detectors are deployed. However, in recent years 3He has become severely scarce, which led to a tremendous price increase and acquisition restrictions of this material. Motivated by this, the development of 3He-free solutions became a priority. In a previous work, we have established a novel concept for neutron detection: a proportional counter with boron carbide (B4C) fine powder suspended in the proportional gas, forming a neutron sensitive aerosol that relies on the 10B neutron capture reaction. Computer simulations and prototype exposure to a cold neutron beam yielded favorable results, validating the detection concept, which may also be applied to hard x-ray and gamma ray detection by using fine particles made of a heavy element, such as Bi or Au. In this work we study the effect of the presence of B4C microparticles in the charge gain and energy resolution of a proportional counter filled with Ar-CH4 (90%–10%), by irradiation with x-rays from a 55Fe source. For the same applied voltage, an average gain loss by a factor of 36% and energy resolution (FWHM) increase by 15% (absolute value) was observed with the inclusion of B4C microparticles. Intrinsic energy resolution was calculated, obtaining 15% for pure P10 operation and 32% in the presence of the microparticles. While the gain drop is recoverable by increasing anode voltage, energy resolution degradation may be a drawback in low energy applications, were energy resolution is favored over detection efficiency.Elsevier2023-04-28T10:51:42Z2019-10-21T00:00:00Z2019-10-21info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10773/37447eng0168-900210.1016/j.nima.2019.162392Duarte, N.F.V.Monteiro, C.M.B.Azevedo, C.D.R.Antognini, A.Amaro, F.D.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAP2024-02-22T12:12:19Zoai:ria.ua.pt:10773/37447Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-20T03:08:03.588423Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse |
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
title |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
spellingShingle |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters Duarte, N.F.V. Proportional counter Neutron detection Gamma ray detection 10B He alternative |
title_short |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
title_full |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
title_fullStr |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
title_full_unstemmed |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
title_sort |
Operational properties of fine powder aerosol as radiation detection medium in gaseous proportional counters |
author |
Duarte, N.F.V. |
author_facet |
Duarte, N.F.V. Monteiro, C.M.B. Azevedo, C.D.R. Antognini, A. Amaro, F.D. |
author_role |
author |
author2 |
Monteiro, C.M.B. Azevedo, C.D.R. Antognini, A. Amaro, F.D. |
author2_role |
author author author author |
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv |
Duarte, N.F.V. Monteiro, C.M.B. Azevedo, C.D.R. Antognini, A. Amaro, F.D. |
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv |
Proportional counter Neutron detection Gamma ray detection 10B He alternative |
topic |
Proportional counter Neutron detection Gamma ray detection 10B He alternative |
description |
Due to its exceptional properties, 3He proportional counters are the golden standard for neutron detection, particularly in homeland security applications where large area detectors are deployed. However, in recent years 3He has become severely scarce, which led to a tremendous price increase and acquisition restrictions of this material. Motivated by this, the development of 3He-free solutions became a priority. In a previous work, we have established a novel concept for neutron detection: a proportional counter with boron carbide (B4C) fine powder suspended in the proportional gas, forming a neutron sensitive aerosol that relies on the 10B neutron capture reaction. Computer simulations and prototype exposure to a cold neutron beam yielded favorable results, validating the detection concept, which may also be applied to hard x-ray and gamma ray detection by using fine particles made of a heavy element, such as Bi or Au. In this work we study the effect of the presence of B4C microparticles in the charge gain and energy resolution of a proportional counter filled with Ar-CH4 (90%–10%), by irradiation with x-rays from a 55Fe source. For the same applied voltage, an average gain loss by a factor of 36% and energy resolution (FWHM) increase by 15% (absolute value) was observed with the inclusion of B4C microparticles. Intrinsic energy resolution was calculated, obtaining 15% for pure P10 operation and 32% in the presence of the microparticles. While the gain drop is recoverable by increasing anode voltage, energy resolution degradation may be a drawback in low energy applications, were energy resolution is favored over detection efficiency. |
publishDate |
2019 |
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv |
2019-10-21T00:00:00Z 2019-10-21 2023-04-28T10:51:42Z |
dc.type.status.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion |
dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/article |
format |
article |
status_str |
publishedVersion |
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv |
http://hdl.handle.net/10773/37447 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10773/37447 |
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv |
eng |
language |
eng |
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv |
0168-9002 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162392 |
dc.rights.driver.fl_str_mv |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
eu_rights_str_mv |
openAccess |
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv |
application/pdf |
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Elsevier |
publisher.none.fl_str_mv |
Elsevier |
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv |
reponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação instacron:RCAAP |
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Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
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RCAAP |
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RCAAP |
reponame_str |
Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) |
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Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informação |
repository.mail.fl_str_mv |
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1799137734429769728 |