Sealed large area neutron detector based on boron-lined multi-wire proportional chamber

Meng Pengwei; Wang Xiaohu; Wang Yanfeng; Lu Yangtu; Shen Zhenrui; Gao Tai; Li Zeren; Zhou Jianrong; Sun Zhijia

doi:10.11884/HPLPB202537.250227

Volume 37 Issue 10

Sep. 2025

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Meng Pengwei, Wang Xiaohu, Wang Yanfeng, et al. Sealed large area neutron detector based on boron-lined multi-wire proportional chamber[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2025, 37: 106008. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250227

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Meng Pengwei, Wang Xiaohu, Wang Yanfeng, et al. Sealed large area neutron detector based on boron-lined multi-wire proportional chamber[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams, 2025, 37: 106008. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250227

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Sealed large area neutron detector based on boron-lined multi-wire proportional chamber

doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250227

Meng Pengwei^1
,,
Wang Xiaohu^{1
,
,},
Wang Yanfeng^{2, 3
,
,},
Lu Yangtu¹,
Shen Zhenrui⁴,
Gao Tai⁴,
Li Zeren¹,
Zhou Jianrong^{2, 3},
Sun Zhijia^{2, 3}

1.
Center for Intense Laser Application Technology, College of Engineering Physics,Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, China
2.
Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan 523803, China
3.
Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beĳing 100049, China
4.
Institute of Fluid Physics, CAEP, Mianyang 621900, China

Received Date: 2025-07-19
Accepted Date: 2025-09-09
Rev Recd Date: 2025-09-09

Available Online: 2025-09-17

Publish Date: 2025-10-15

Abstract

Abstract

Background
Efficient neutron detectors are widely used in national security, neutron scattering, and nuclear energy development. The ³He proportional tube, a commonly used neutron detector, faces a global shortage of ³He resources. Meanwhile, existing alternative detectors like BF₃ proportional tubes have low efficiency and toxicity, and most large-area boron-lined gas detectors adopt a flow-gas design requiring gas cylinders, causing inconvenience in use and maintenance.
Purpose
To address the above issues, this study aims to develop a sealed large-area neutron detector based on a boron-lined multi-wire proportional chamber (MWPC) for nuclear environment safety monitoring and fusion pulsed neutron measurement.
Methods
The Geant4 software with the FTFP_BERT_HP physics library was used to simulate the effect of boron coating thickness on detection efficiency, energy deposition of secondary particles in the working gas, and γ-ray sensitivity. A double-layer sealed detector with a 1.6 μm boron coating and a 10 cm×10 cm effective area was fabricated. Performance tests (pulse height spectrum and neutron detection efficiency) were conducted at the 20th beamline (BL20) of the China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS), using a self-developed readout electronics system and a standard ³He tube as a reference.
Results
Simulation showed that thermal neutron detection efficiency was 1%−7% when boron coating thickness was 0.1−2.5 μm, and γ-ray sensitivity was less than 5×10⁻⁶ at a 100 keV energy threshold. Experimental results indicated that the detector’s pulse height spectrum matched the simulated energy deposition. After background subtraction, its detection efficiencies for 0.18 nm, 0.29 nm, and 0.48 nm neutrons were 4.2%, 6.0%, and 9.4%, respectively, consistent with the ¹⁰B neutron absorption cross-section law.
Conclusions
The developed sealed large-area boron-lined MWPC neutron detector avoids complex gas circulation systems. Future optimization of boron coating thickness and conversion layer number can further improve efficiency, providing a new solution for nuclear safety monitoring and fusion pulsed neutron measurement.
- boron-lined,
- MWPC,
- sealed,
- neutron detector,
- γ-ray sensitivity

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References(16)

References

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