Neutron Detection via the Cherenkov Effect

We have incorporated neutron-absorbing elements in transparent, nonscintillating glasses and used the Cherenkov effect to convert neutron-induced beta-gamma radiation directly into light. Use of the Cherenkov effect requires glasses with a high index of refraction (to lower the threshold and increase the number of Cherenkov photons) and neutron absorbers resulting in radioactive products emitting high-energy beta or gamma radiation. In this paper, we present a brief description of the requirements for developing efficient Cherenkov-based neutron detectors, show the results of measurements of the response of representative samples to thermal and fast neutron fluxes, and give the results of a calculation of the expected response of a detector to a moderated fission spectrum.