Patent ID: 8878138
Filing Date: 2014-11-04
Classification: G01T,G01V

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for determining a location of a neutron emitting source, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of neutron detectors configured to receive incoming neutrons from an area of interest, each neutron detector being configured to produce a path of light depicting a direction of travel of an incoming neutron by an interaction with the incoming neutron and comprising an imager configured to produce an image the path of light; and a central processor coupled to each neutron detector in the plurality of neutron detectors and configured to receive the direction of travel of the incoming neutron from each neutron detector as determined by the image produced in each neutron detector and to compute the location using the received directions; wherein each neutron detector in the plurality of neutron detectors comprises: a gas an atom with a recoil nucleus that recoils upon interacting with the incoming neutron, the gas being configured to be ionized by the recoil nucleus upon the recoil nucleus gaining energy from the interaction with the incoming neutron, wherein the gas releases electrons due to being ionized; and an electron-interaction material that is a metallic screen mesh configured to interact with the released electrons to emit photons that produce the path of light depicting the direction of travel of the incoming neutron.