Helium-3 Neutron Proportional Counters Applications Holium-3 Noutron Detectors are largely sensitive to thermal ‘neutrons and are typicaly used with a neutron moderator. For this reason, He-3 Proportional Counters are well suted for measuring substrates high in hydrogen, such as water and oil, where the substrate being measured acts as the moderator. in fact, TGM's He-3 detectors are widely used in combination with a fast neutron source to measure the ‘moisture content in sol and in concrete. They are also used to measure the ol content within the strata of an i Well while itis being cried! Other applications include Nuclear Material Assay, ‘where mutipie He-3 Detectors are used in a coincidence Circuit to determine the amount of fissionable material. Such davices are used to monitor the enrichment process ‘af nuclear fuel ‘abrication or to determine an unknown ‘amount of fisionable meterial suspended in a substrate. Nuclear Material Assay devices are also used in Safeguard ~pplications — verifying the world's inventory of fissionable material Theory of Detection Hellum-3 Proportional Counters uilize the He? (n,p) H® reaction forthe detection of thermel neurons. He® + n! (thermal) — H' +H? +@ where Q = 764KeV. ‘The energy ofthe eacton is carted away as kinetic energy ofthe daughter products, which move in opposite directions He-3 Neutron Detectors provide an output pulse which is proportional to 764KeV for thermal neutrons, The cross section of He-3 for thermal neutrons is 5330 bams. ‘The cross saction folws a 1/V relationship (v = neutron velocity} up to about 0.2 MeV. ‘The ionization potential of helium is approximately 256V; this means that @ gas multpication of about 20 yields a ‘charge peer pulse of the order of 0.1 pico coulomb (assum- ing that al the energy of the He-8 daughter products are deposited within the gas volume). I one increases the volt ‘ag2 on the tube, the gas multiplication wil increase, how- ever in an extreme case ifetime wil be decreased. A gas gain of 20s @ compromise, it provides a convenient puso ze to work with at the optimum energy resolution without sacrificing itetime. TGM has developed He-3 Detectors without the use of polyatomic quench gas for exceptional long ife.* * asin of He-3 Neutron Detectors without the use of poly stole quench gases" pape presented at EEE 94 Nutr Energy Peak and Wall Effect Only a single ful energy peak willbe observed for neutron ‘energies that are small compared with 764K. On the let ‘of the full energy peak there is @ region known as the “wall effect” which contains two ciscontinucus steps (see figure 7) Figure 7 Helium-3 neutron spectrum as viewed ‘on a Multichannel Analyzer. ‘The wall etfect arises because the proton and triton daughter products ofthe reaction nave discrete energies (G73KeV and 191KeV respectively} and ther ranges in the ‘detector are usualy larger than the dimensions of the detector. When one of the daughter products colides with the wall ofthe detector, is energy is dissipated and does not contribute tothe ful energy peak, thus creating the aisrete steps inthe spectrum (see figure 7). In some cases it's desrable to reduce the wall effect. This can be accomplished in three ways: (1) Inorease the diameter of the detector such that the ratio ‘of daughter products coliding with the wall as compared to events that have the full energy deposited in the gas volume are reduced, (2) Increase the gas pressure to reduce the range of the daughter products in the gas volume, (3) Include an amount of a heavier gas in the admixture to increase the stopping power of the gas. ifthe size and fil pressure are fixed by other considera- tions (e.g. sensitivity), the addition of a heavier gas is the ‘common alternative. (Please note, adding a heavier gas ‘wil increase the gamma sensivy ofthe detector) Helium-3 Sensitivity ‘The sensitivity of a He-3 Detector to thermal neutrons is 2 function of the ammount of He-3 gas and increases with gas pressure fora fixed volume. Figures 8 and 9. are graphs, Of sensitvty per centimeter (cm) active length for cfferent detector dameters at various pressures. To determine sen- sitivity, muitioly the senstivty per cm for a partioular tube diameter by the active length in om. Please note that the sensitivities are quoted fora standard gas fing of He- ‘and carbon dioxide. I a special gas mixture is used whch utlizes a large quantity of another gas (@.9. argon) then the following graph serves as a good aoproximation if only the ‘amount of He-3 is consideredSpecial Applications For Nuclear Material Assay applications where timing is ‘ftcal for coincidence measurements the detector needs to be customized by desig’ and gas filing to give a very fast pulse whie maintarning the necessery sersitty and ‘operating voltage. The time characteristics of the output ppulse are governed by the charge collection time within the tector, and are optimized by choosing anode size and gas mixtures to provide the most rapid avalanche propaga- tion end recovery. The important characteristics are defined as folows: (1) Rise time refers to the leading edge ofthe pulse without regard to pulse polarty itis the time interval between the pulse at 10% and 90% of the full amplitude, (2) itor tris the maximum time between the joniing ‘vent inthe gas and the formation of the votage pulse. Variation of Sensitivity with Fill Pressure ‘Senetivty Por am Active Length (pl) OTe a eb ey sen ‘ott Ft Presse armoseeres) Figure @ Helium-8 sensitivity per unit length for increasing gas pressure. For low sensitivity appications figure 9 is @ graph of sonst ity per cm active length for l pressures 1-2 atmospheres. Figure 9 Helium-3 sensitivity per unit length for low gas pressures BFS Neutron Proportional Counters Applications Uke Helium-3, Boron Tr-fuoride (BF) Proportional Counters are largely Sensitive to Thermal Neutrons. Typical applica tions include: Thermal Neutron Diffraction, Spectroscopy, Industrial Gauging and Neutron Monitoring. Because TGM's ‘BF; Proportional Counters can be used in gamma fields up to 100 Fh, thay are wel suited for measuring neutrons in mixed waste, Theory of Detection BF neutron Proportional Gounters utilize the B"(n,aipha) U reaction BM enh + alpha +Q In 98% of the reactions Q = 2.31 MaV, leaving the Lithium nuctide in the frst excited state. The other 7% of the reactions have Q = 2.79 MeV, with the Lithium nuctde in the ground state. ‘The energy from the reaction with a thermal neutron is shared as kinetic energy of the daughter products. ‘The reaction products are 0.84 MeV and 1.47 MeV for the Lithium nuclide and alpha particle respectively. BF3 compared to He-3 Neutron Detectors BF; neutron detectors contain boron enriched to >90% B®, The thermal neutron cross section for B" is 3840 barns. ‘This is considerably less than the oross section of He-S for thermal neutrons. The cross section crops off as 1/V up to ‘about 0.1 MeV (v = neutron velocity), Compared to He®, B' has a ower oross section for thermal neutrons, making BF, detectors less sensitiv. “The one advantage is tht the Q of the neutron reaction is ‘much lerger than for He-8, making its eas to disriminata against gamma puises with a BF; tube. BF detectors can easly be used in gamma fluxes of 100 Fike and will ave a lie in excess of 10" rom (Hetime defined as a 10% ‘eduction in orginal sensitiv). Compared to He-3, BF; detectors function at much higher operating votages. i more than 2-2.5 KV is neces sary, ts recommended that a guard ring be used on the anode insuitor. Guard rings prevent elctical leakage ‘across the insulator contrguting to the noise level of the signal rom the detector.Helium-3 Neutron Proportional Counters He Gas Pressure, Sensitivity and Operating Voltage TM Par Length | 2 ATM 4am ATM BAT 10ATM Number “| ox = 152) (x= 804) ox = 456) foxx = 608) (xxx = 760) ° Operating | Operating | Operating Replace the warn | A | Dia. Voltage | Dla. Voltage | Dia. Voltage each part number | © | 05 = 1160 | 05 = 1350 | 05 = 1650 withthe number | [| 1700 speciied under | y | A 1750 He Gas Pressue | Et 15 = 1850 | 7 05 Dia Tubes | ete - ToHeGowis | 30 44) 22 38 51 69 ‘eHeiots | 59 73) 43 78 10 - ae 3 7 23 SOHeaoots | 20 21.1] 14 25 4 ‘oches coat oat eae coon 30 40/46 77 98 isHesowt9 | 59 69 90 6 19 Dsresiowta [98 108| 15 25 32 SOHEBio1S | 2019.7 30 5t | 65 "Die. Tubes | — nde | en = = erearones | 38 52| 97 16 19 127Heaeaes | 50 62| 13 ca 25 TSHeGnw25 69 70) 15 24 30 25HeSiow25 | 9.8 11.8 25 40 50 SoHeaew25 197 217) 60 a so Wr YOoHeaoovas [304 414) 101 161 198 230 125Hes/ow25 402 512) 126 202 as 282 1.5"Oia, Tubes | inenes | _ eps epaiov eosin tsHeamnovae | 59 79) 0 st 25HeGio3B | 98 118/61 35 ot % SoHespows8 197 217/101 uot 126 1OdHe@iow38 | 34 41.4| 202 27 nr) 372 41.25" Dia. Spherical | —_nehee eosin coun —_ P90! 19 50/39 59 All He-8 detectors sted are mado of Stainless 70a Tubes [ies [coat | coy aru oreo w tot ATM poor TeHesiowso | 59 79 | 48 | 66 ‘1, 1.5 and 2" ameter tubes come slanderd TBiveainos0 | 88 18) al vio win Hoots ter comatos auto SOHe@o50 (197 21.7 | 161 220 with activated carton coating WWoreahonds0 [aa4 414 | 322 4a} > ee