Gary E Jensen

US Patent:

49316494, Jun 5, 1990

Filed:

Apr 25, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/342858

Inventors:

J. Bart Czirr - Mapleton UT
Gary L. Jensen - Orem UT

Assignee:

Brigham Young University - Provo UT

International Classification:

G01T 306

US Classification:

25039007

Abstract:

A spectrometer for MEV neutrons relies upon total energy absorption to measure neutron energy. Neutrons are thermalized in a liquid scintillator-moderator providing a first light pulse and are subsequently captured in a Li-6 glass scintillator providing a second light pulse. The light pulses are converted into first and second electronic signals by photomultipliers. A coincidence signal is required from the neutron capture prior to gating electronic circuitry for measuring the amplitude of the first electronic signal. The dual signal from a single neutron provides a mechanism for discrimination against background events arising either from gamma rays or from ambient, low-energy neutrons. The spectrometer is particularly useful in situations in which the neutron source intensity is very low.

US Patent:

52312909, Jul 27, 1993

Filed:

Jun 16, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/899031

Inventors:

J. Bartley Czirr - Mapleton UT
Gary L. Jensen - Orem UT

Assignee:

Brigham Young University - Provo UT

International Classification:

G01T 306

US Classification:

25039011

Abstract:

A neutron detector relies upon optical separation of different scintillators to measure the total energy and/or number of neutrons from a neutron source. In pulse mode embodiments of the invention, neutrons are detected in a first detector which surrounds the neutron source and in a second detector surrounding the first detector. An electronic circuit insures that only events are measured which correspond to neutrons first detected in the first detector followed by subsequent detection in the second detector. In spectrometer embodiments of the invention, neutrons are thermalized in the second detector which is formed by a scintillator-moderator and neutron energy is measured from the summed signals from the first and second detectors.