Silicon detectors for thermal and epithermal neutrons

El presente proyecto está orientado al desarrollo de nuevas técnicas de detección de neutrones basadas en sensores de imagen semiconductores con tecnología CCD y CMOS cubiertos con capas de conversión de materiales con alta sección eficaz de captura neutrónica. Los detectores de neutrones de alta resolución espacial a desarrollar y construir en el marco del presente proyecto están orientados a aplicaciones en el campo de las técnicas neutronicas y de la física médica.The present project is oriented to the development of new neutron detection techniques, based on CCD and CMOS semiconductor image sensors covered with conversion layers with high neutron cross section. The high spatial resolution detectors to be developed in the present project are oriented to applications in the field of neutron techniques and medical physics

Luminescent and Scintillating Properties of Lanthanum Fluoride Nanocrystals in Response to Gamma/Neutron Irradiation: Codoping with Ce Activator, Yb Wavelength Shifter, and Gd Neutron Captor

A novel concept for detection and spectroscopy of gamma rays, and detection of thermal neutrons based on codoped lanthanum fluoride nanocrystals containing gadolinium is presented.The trends of colloidal synthesis of the mentioned material, LaF3 co-doped with Ce as the activator, Yb as the wavelength-shifter and Gd as the neutron captor, is reported. Nanocrystals of the mentioned material were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), optical absorption, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Gamma detection and its potential spectroscopy feature have been confirmed. The neutron detection capability has been confirmed by experiments performed using a 252Cf neutron source.Comment: 5 figures, 16 page