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Neutron Detection Using Amorphous Boron-Carbide Hetero-Junction Diodes, Thomas P. Mcquary

Theses and Dissertations

The high energy products of the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li neutron capture reaction were explored as a means of thermal neutron detection in thin film amorphous boron carbide (a--B₅C:H_x) on n-type silicon hetero-junction diodes. Pulse height spectroscopy was conducted on the diodes while they were subjected to a moderated plutonium-beryllium (PuBe) source. Neutron capture could not be confirmed experimentally in any of the devices tested. Device modeling was performed to investigate the cause for the diode detector's negative response. A 1.47 MeV α particle produced transient current of 10^-7 A and the induced was 4.7 …