Abstract
Two-dimensional position sensitive detectors are indispensable in neutron diffraction experiments for determination of molecular and crystal structures in biology, solid-state physics and polymer chemistry. Some performance characteristics of these detectors are elementary and obvious, such as the position resolution, number of resolution elements, neutron detection efficiency, counting rate and sensitivity to gamma-ray background. High performance detectors are distinguished by more subtle characteristics such as the stability of the response (efficiency) versus position, stability of the recorded neutron positions, dynamic range, blooming or halo effects. While relatively few of them are needed around the world, these high performance devices are sophisticated and fairly complex; their development requires very specialized efforts. In this context, we describe here a program of detector development, based on 3He filled proportional chambers, which has been underway for some years at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. Fundamental approaches and practical considerations are outlined that have resulted in a series of high performance detectors with the best known position resolution, position stability, uniformity of response and reliability over time, for devices of this type.
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© 1996 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Radeka, V., Schaknowski, N.A., Smith, G.C., Yu, B. (1996). High Precision Thermal Neutron Detectors. In: Schoenborn, B.P., Knott, R.B. (eds) Neutrons in Biology. Basic Life Sciences, vol 64. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5847-7_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-5847-7_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
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