Neutron and gamma-ray detection system

Abstract

The present invention is a radially symmetric imaging detector that measures an incident neutron's or gamma-ray's energy and identifies its source on an event-by-event basis.

1 . A neutron detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident neutron comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric.  
   
   
       2 . The neutron detector of  claim 1  wherein said bars contain organic scintillating material.  
   
   
       3 . A neutron detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident neutron comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars each having a first end and a second end and said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric.  
   
   
       4 . The neutron detector of  claim 3  further comprising a light sensing means, attached at the first end and second end of each of said bars, for detecting n-p scatter events in each of said bars.  
   
   
       5 . The neutron detector of  claim 4  further comprising electronic signal processing means to process the light-sensing signals and measure the sequence, positions, energies, relative times and pulse shapes of each coincident n-p interaction.  
   
   
       6 . A method of detecting neutrons by determining the direction and energy of each incident neutron comprising 
 positioning multiple scintillator bars so that said bars are substantially parallel;    further positioning said bars so that the bars are radially symmetric;    attaching a light sensing means to the ends of each of said bars;    detecting successive n-p scatters in different bars caused by an incident neutron;    determining the relative times of the successive n-p scatters; and    determining the sequence, positions, relative times and energies of a recoil proton and a scattered neutron resulting from each successive scatters.    
   
   
       7 . A neutron detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident neutron comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric providing a 360° wide scan without changing the detector's orientation.  
   
   
       8 . A gamma-ray detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident gamma-ray comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric.  
   
   
       9 . The gamma-ray detector of  claim 8  wherein said bars contain organic scintillating material.  
   
   
       10 . A gamma-ray detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident gamma-ray comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars each having a first end and a second end and said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric.  
   
   
       11 . The gamma-ray detector of  claim 10  further comprising a light sensing means attached at the first end and second end of each of said bars, for detecting Compton interactions in each of said bars.  
   
   
       12 . The gamma-ray detector of  claim 11  further comprising electronic signal processing means to process the light-sensing signals and measure the sequence, positions, energies, relative times and pulse shapes of each coincident Compton interaction.  
   
   
       13 . a method of detecting gamma-rays by determining the direction and energy of each incident gamma-ray comprising. 
 positioning multiple scintillator bars so that said bars are substantially parallel;    further positioning said bars so that the bars are radially symmetric;    attaching a light sensing means to the ends of each of said bars;    detecting successive Compton interactions in different bars caused by an incident gamma-ray;    determining the relative times of the successive Compton interactions; and    determining the sequence, positions, relative times and energies of a recoil electron and a scattered gamma-ray resulting from each successive interaction.    
   
   
       14 . A gamma-ray detector to determine the direction and energy of each incident gamma-ray comprising multiple substantially parallel scintillator bars, said bars being positioned such that the bars are radially symmetric providing a 360° wide scan without changing the detector's orientation.