ARI-SA: Development of a direction sensitive neutron detector

Trustees Of Boston University, Boston

Investigators

Abstract

0736061 Ahlen New technologies with improved sensitivity will be needed to identify hidden nuclear weapons in order to protect the United States from this threat. This project will build a detector that will measure the direction and energy of recoiling nuclei produced in collisions with neutrons emitted by spontaneous fission from plutonium warheads. The detector will have improved sensitivity compared to other neutron detectors due to its ability to determine the direction of approach of the neutrons, thereby reducing significantly the backgrounds due to cosmic ray neutrons. This research will bring together graduate and undergraduate students and researchers in a unique way.