Patent ID: 6668033
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: G01T

Abstract:
Neutron source comprising a primary neutron beam source (10) and a beam monitor (2) for investigating the primary neutron beam (1) produced in the neutron source, the beam monitor (2) comprising a primary neutron beam entrance, a primary neutron beam exit, a primary neutron beam path formed between said primary neutron beam entrance and said primary neutron beam exit, a detector device (6) for detecting neutrons, and a scattering unit (4) arranged in said primary neutron beam path and which scatters a known fraction within the range of 10âˆ’2-10âˆ’6 of the total number of the neutrons in the primary neutron beam and is arranged in the beam path of the primary neutron beam (1) for scattering neutrons at least predominantly incoherently, the detector device (6) comprisinga) a collimator unit (7) which allows the passage only of neutrons scattered by said scattering unit (4) and having a direction of movement essentially parallel to the collimator axis, the collimator unit (7) being arranged outside of the primary neutron beam path and downstream of the scattering unit seen in the direction of movement of the scattered neutrons passing through the collimator unit (7); b) a detecting unit (8) for detecting impinging neutrons scattered by said scattering unit (4) and passing through said collimator unit (7), the detecting unit (8) arranged downstream of the collimator unit (7) seen in the direction of movement of the neutrons passing through the collimator unit (7) and suitable for detecting impinging neutrons and c) means (9) for determining the spatial distribution of the neutrons detected by the detecting unit (8).