Hybrid Superconducting Neutron Detectors
Hybrid Superconducting Neutron Detectors
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混合超导中子探测器
DOI：
10.1063/1.4915608
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发表时间：
2014
期刊：
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
A. Pietropaolo
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
V. Merlo;M. Salvato;M. Cirillo;M. Lucci;I. Ottaviani;A. Scherillo;G. Celentano;A. Pietropaolo
提出了一种基于包覆一层硼(B)层的Nb超导带材的新的中子探测概念。探测器的工作原理依赖于核反应10B+n和Li离子在电流偏置的Nb带上产生热点，进而引起超导-正常态的转变。后者被认为是一个电压信号，是入射中子的证据。在ISIS散裂中子源(UK)上用脉冲中子束照射样品，对上述探测原理进行了实验评估和验证。结果表明，温度T=8K、电流偏置在临界电流IC以下的镀硼超导带材在热中子辐照下被驱动到正常状态。转变的结果是，测量到超过40 mV的电压脉冲，同时可以适当地调制偏置电流，使带材回到超导状态，从而重置探测器。给出了对该装置的计数速率的测量结果，并展望了未来发展具有前所未有的空间分辨率和效率的中子探测器的前景。
A new neutron detection concept is presented that is based on superconductive niobium (Nb) strips coated by a boron (B) layer. The working principle of the detector relies on the nuclear reaction 10B+n $\rightarrow$ $\alpha$+ 7Li , with $\alpha$ and Li ions generating a hot spot on the current-biased Nb strip which in turn induces a superconducting-normal state transition. The latter is recognized as a voltage signal which is the evidence of the incident neutron. The above described detection principle has been experimentally assessed and verified by irradiating the samples with a pulsed neutron beam at the ISIS spallation neutron source (UK). It is found that the boron coated superconducting strips, kept at a temperature T = 8 K and current-biased below the critical current Ic, are driven into the normal state upon thermal neutron irradiation. As a result of the transition, voltage pulses in excess of 40 mV are measured while the bias current can be properly modulated to bring the strip back to the superconducting state, thus resetting the detector. Measurements on the counting rate of the device are presented and the future perspectives leading to neutron detectors with unprecedented spatial resolutions and efficiency are highlighted.