A fast-neutron detector based on single-crystalline silicon

It is shown that the change of the specific electrical conductivity (SEC) of silicon single crystals in the process of their irradiation is directly proportional to the fast-neutron fluence. This is used as the basis of the principle of the neutron-flux detection. The coefficient of proportionality depends on the neutron spectrum, but does not depend on the initial SEC, which significantly simplifies detector calibration. A set of wafers with different SEC values has been manufactured using the technology silicon neutron-transmutation doping. The SEC has been measured by the four-probe method. A simple method for measuring the SEC without recourse to any special setup is proposed. The random measurement error of the fast-neutron fluence was ∼10%, and the absolute one was ∼37%.

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