A Handheld Neutron-Detection Sensor System Utilizing a New Class of Boron Carbide Diode

Author

Osberg, Kevin ; Schemm, Nathan ; Balkir, Sina ; Brand, Jennifer I. ; Hallbeck, M. Susan ; Dowben, Peter A. ; Hoffman, Michael W.

Author_Institution

LSI Logic Corp., Fort Collins, CO

Volume

6

Issue

6

fYear

2006

Firstpage

1531

Lastpage

1538

Abstract

A handheld neutron-detection sensor application is described in this paper. The sensor system utilizes a new class of boron carbide diode that interacts with incoming neutrons. To interface with the boron carbide diode, an integrated front end is designed in a 1.5-mum standard CMOS technology. With the diode and front-end microchip, a handheld neutron-detection system was realized with an embedded microcontroller for real-time processing. The handheld detector operation was then tested with a plutonium-beryllium neutron source. Test and measurement results confirm the validity of the approach and the functionality of the design

Keywords

CMOS integrated circuits; neutron detection; nonelectric sensing devices; portable instruments; semiconductor diodes; 1.5 micron; BC; CMOS technology; charge-sensitive amplifier; embedded microcontroller; front-end microchip; handheld detector; heteroisomeric diode; integrated front end; neutron-detection sensor; real-time processing; Boron; CMOS technology; Detectors; Diodes; Microcontrollers; Neutrons; Real time systems; Sensor phenomena and characterization; Sensor systems; Testing; Boron carbide; charge-sensitive amplifier; heteroisomeric diode; neutron detection;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Sensors Journal, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1530-437X

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSEN.2006.883905

Filename

4014179