6LiF Converters for Neutron Detection: Production Procedures and Detector Tests

Autor: Antonio Massara, Simone Amaducci, Luigi Cosentino, Fabio Longhitano, Carmelo Marchetta, Gaetano Elio Poma, Martina Ursino, Paolo Finocchiaro
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2022
Předmět:
Zdroj: Instruments, Vol 7, Iss 1, p 1 (2022)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2410-390X
DOI: 10.3390/instruments7010001
Popis: Several methods to detect thermal neutrons make use of the naturally occurring 6Li isotope, as it has a rather high cross-section for neutron capture followed by a decay into an alpha particle and a triton. Due to the high chemical reactivity of lithium, the use of the stable isotopic salt 6LiF is generally preferred to the pure 6Li. The typical method for depositing thin layers of 6LiF on suitable substrates, therefore creating so-called neutron converters, is evaporation under vacuum. The evaporation technique, as well as a newly developed chemical deposition process, are described along with their benefits and drawbacks, and the results of neutron detection tests performed with the two types of converters coupled to silicon diodes show convenient performances.
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