Fabrication, Modeling, and Testing of a Miniaturized Fast Neutron Detector

Abstract This work outlines the positive-intrinsic-negative diode fabrication process for a Miniaturized Fast Neutron Detector and documents alpha source testing of a single positive-intrinsic-negative diode. The Miniaturized Fast Neutron Detector provides information about the kinetic energy distribution of neutrons with resolution up to 20 MeV and has 1–2% of the volume of comparable current state-of-the-art neutron spectrometers, namely Bonner Ball Neutron Detector sets and Capture-Gated Neutron Scintillator Detectors. The Miniaturized Fast Neutron Detector can be used to estimate neutron doses for heavy charged particle therapy patients improving the understanding of secondary cancer risks, monitor secondary neutron radiation more efficiently in therapy treatment facilities, and perform an important role in protecting astronauts from radiation.