Double-GEM based thermal neutron detector prototype

TL;DR

This paper presents a novel double-GEM neutron detector prototype using a $^{10}$B$_4$C layer, achieving over 3% efficiency, good spatial resolution, and stable gain, addressing helium-3 shortages in neutron detection.

Contribution

Development and experimental validation of a double-GEM neutron detector with $^{10}$B$_4$C, demonstrating comparable efficiency and stability with simplified electronics.

Findings

Detection efficiency of 3.14(10)% at 41.8 meV neutron energy

Spatial resolution better than 3 mm

Gain fluctuation of about 0.2% per hour

Abstract

The Helium-3 shortage and the growing interest in neutron science constitute a driving factor in developing new neutron detection technologies. In this work, we report the development of a double-GEM detector prototype that uses a $^{10}$B$_4$C layer as a neutron converter material. GEANT4 simulations were performed predicting an efficiency of 3.14(10) %, agreeing within 2.7 $\sigma$ with the experimental and analytic detection efficiencies obtained by the detector when tested in a 41.8 meV thermal neutron beam. The detector is position sensitive, equipped with a 256+256 strip readout connected to resistive chains, and achieves a spatial resolution better than 3 mm. The gain stability over time was also measured with a fluctuation of about 0.2 %h$^{-1}$ of the signal amplitude. A simple data acquisition with only 5 electronic channels is sufficient to operate this detector.