FABRICATING RADIATION-DETECTING STRUCTURES

Solid state radiation detectors, such as neutron detectors and gamma ray detectors, have been proposed as alternatives to gas-tube based detectors. Radiation-detecting hetero-structures may be formed by using physical etching processes, such as reactive ion etching (RIE) to form trenches in a semiconductor substrate, followed by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to deposit radiation-detecting material within the formed trenches.

NEUTRON-DETECTING APPARATUSES AND METHODS OF FABRICATION

This technology relates to neutron-detecting structures and methods of fabrication. Efficient solid-state neutron-detectors with large detecting surfaces and low gamma sensitivity are desired for detecting and preventing proliferation of special nuclear materials (SNMs). Unfortunately, available neutron-detectors are limited, for instance, by size, weight, high bias voltage requirements, andor cost due, for instance, to limited supply of enriched helium (3He) gas, which is currently employed in most neutron-detectors.