Fast neutron spectroscopy with tensioned metastable fluid detectors

Abstract

Systems and methods for neutron detection using tensioned metastable fluid detectors, using a single atom spectroscopy approach.

1 . A portable system for detecting neutrons comprising, a detector liquid in a first enclosure having walls and a venturi valve system such that the detector liquid can pass therethrough during detector operation, the enclosure affixed to a spinning mechanism for introducing negative pressure in the detector liquid, wherein the spinning mechanism is capable of inducing a negative pressure in the detector liquid such that neutron detection can occur in the detector liquid at negative pressure and configured to detect neutron-caused vapor pocket corresponding to neutron counts, wherein the detection is based on [EV]=[RM]×[NE], where EV is a vector matrix of results of relative detection time for a range of P neg  values obtained experimentally by placing one or more detectors equidistance from an unknown neutron source, NE is a neutron energy vector, RM is a response matrix representing a probability matrix for detecting a neutron at a plurality of P neg  values, and P neg  is the tensioned negative pressure.