Speaker
Description
The worldwide shortage of Helium-3 has intensified the search for alternative neutron detection technologies capable of combining high efficiency, robustness, and scalability. We present the development of a thermal neutron detector prototype based on Thick Gas Electron Multiplier (THGEM) technology coupled to enriched Boron-10 conversion layers. The detector exploits the $^{10}\text{B}(\text{n},\alpha)^7\text{Li}$ reaction to produce highly ionizing charged particles, which are amplified within the high-field regions of the THGEM holes, following the well-established micro-pattern gaseous detector principles.
The project encompasses the characterization of boron deposition on THGEM electrodes, optimization of multi-layer configurations to enhance detection efficiency, and experimental validation using calibrated neutron sources, supported by Geant4 and Garfield++ simulations. The inherent mechanical robustness, high-rate capability, and cost-effective PCB-based manufacturing of THGEM structures make this approach particularly attractive for large-area implementations.
Beyond applications in high-energy and nuclear physics experiments, the proposed technology shows strong potential for reactor instrumentation, spallation neutron sources, and neutron imaging systems, where scalable, gamma-tolerant, and economically sustainable detection solutions are required.
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