Diamond Thermal Neutron Detector

Thermal neutrons are by-products of generating energy in nuclear power stations and from naturally occurring and artificially created radioactive sources. They are used in industry and medicine as a means to probe materials, and to initiate controlled nuclear reactions that in the case of Boron Neutron Capture therapy can treat cancer effectively. Neutrons are used and occur in a wide range of scientific applications. Being able to accurately and efficiently measure the presence of neutrons allows us to use thermal neutrons in a beneficial way, and to work to minimise radiation created in facilities.

Helium 3 is the element that has the highest probability of interaction with thermal neutrons, but it is expensive and supplies of this material are limited. Alternatives to Helium-3 based neutron detectors are required for the nuclear industry, security, scientific and medical research. This proposal seeks to make a new type of non-Helium-3 thermal neutron detector by merging the capabilities of an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Queen Mary University of London with that of the UK company Micron Semiconductor Ltd.