Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method for counting neutrons, comprising:collecting neutrons emitted from a source in a multi-detector array;inputting pulses from the multidetector array in parallel to a plurality of separate inputs to form input signals, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs is tied to a respective individual bit of a digitized word;reading each digitized word at regular intervals to produce a plurality of read and digitized words, wherein all bits are read simultaneously to minimize latency; andstoring each read and digitized word of the plurality of read and digitized words, wherein each read and digitized word is stored in a number of storage locations for subsequent processing. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the multi-detector array comprises a plurality of individual He-3 detector tubes. 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the digitized word encodes a count of neutrons emitted from the source. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein the count is obtained by a count process comprising:collecting neutron data in parallel input circuits;controlling a minimum summing interval for counting the data;summing the data in said summing interval, to produce a data sum;storing the data sum in multiple arrays; andbuilding data structures by constructing summed sections from each array of the multiple arrays. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the input signals are edge triggered. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the minimum summing interval is controlled with a clock. 7. The method of claim 4, wherein each input circuit is operatively connected to multiple independent means for adding of the input signals. 8. The method of claim 4, wherein the data structures comprise data selected from the group consisting of multiple superset interval sizes, interval sizing after an external trigger, event totals in a fixed interval, event totals in a fixed interval after an external trigger, time intervals between events, time intervals between events after an external trigger, and arrival time of certain clump sizes after an external trigger. 9. The method of claim 4, wherein said data structures comprise multiple superset interval sizes, interval sizing after an external trigger, event totals in a fixed interval, event totals in a fixed interval after an external trigger, time intervals between events, time intervals between events after an external trigger, and arrival time of certain clump sizes after an external trigger. 10. A method of neutron event counting, comprising:inputting edge triggered input signals into parallel input circuits observing each neutron event to be counted;controlling a minimum summing interval wherein data is counted, for use by a parallel set of means for adding, wherein each input circuit of said input circuits is operatively connected to multiple independent means for adding of said parallel set;reading a sum in each said means for adding during said minimum summing interval to produce a sum read;zeroing each said means for adding at the end of the minimum summing interval;storing said sum read into multiple arrays; andconstructing summed sections from the array to build data structures comprising multiple superset interval sizes, interval sizing after an external trigger, event totals in a fixed interval, event totals in a fixed interval after an external trigger, time intervals between events, time intervals between events after an external trigger, and arrival time of certain clump sizes after an external trigger. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the edge triggered input signals are generated by multi-detector array comprising a plurality of individual He-3 detector tubes. 12. The method of claim 10 wherein a digitized word encodes a count of neutrons emitted from a source being sampled. 13. A neutron detector system comprising:a multi-detector array collecting neutrons emitted from a source;an edge-detector having a plurality of inputs, each input receiving input pulses from the multi-detector array, wherein each input of the plurality of inputs is tied to a respective individual bit of a digital word; anda multi-mode counter module coupled to the edge-detector and comprising a plurality of simultaneously executing processing units and a plurality of adder circuits, each processing unit utilizing a specific combination of trigger condition for the adder circuits and count parameter to define a minimum summing interval for counting the input pulses. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein the trigger condition is selected from one of an internal trigger and an external trigger. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the count parameter comprises a number of neutron multiplicities present in one or more time subgate periods during a data acquisition cycle of the detector. 16. The system of claim 14 wherein the count parameter comprises a distribution of neutron-pair time intervals during one or more data acquisition cycles of the detector. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the data acquisition cycle begins after a defined delay following the trigger condition. 18. The system of claim 13 further comprising a word generator reading digital words at regular intervals to produce a plurality of read words, wherein all bits are read simultaneously to minimize latency. 19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a memory coupled to the word generator and storing each read word of the plurality of read words, wherein each read word is stored in a number of storage locations in the memory for subsequent processing. 20. The system of claim 13 wherein the multi-detector array comprises a plurality of individual He-3 detector tubes.