# Research on a Neutron Detector with a Boron-Lined Multilayer Converter
## 5 Conclusions  
This study proposes a new design for a boron-lined gaseous neutron detector structure comprising a BMC and an MWPC to address the \"\({}^{3}\)He supply crisis\" global problem while avoiding a scattering neutron background coming from the substrate of the boron-lined neutron detector. We established EDEMs with different slit widths using Garfield++ because the process of electron drifting occurs in BMCND neutron detection. The Geant4 simulation obtained the values and positions of electron energy deposition. We calculated the charged particle energy deposition spectra of different slits with widths of 2.0 mm, 2.5 mm, 3.0 mm, 3.5 mm, and 4.0 mm by coupling the EDEMs and the values and positions of electron energy deposition. The width of the slit was selected as 3 mm, considering comprehensively noise effects and neutron detection efficiency. The measured \(\alpha\) particle count rate was 599.5 s\({}^{-1}\), 89% of the theoretical emission rate of 672.9 s\({}^{-1}\). Moreover, a \({}^{241}\)Am-\({}^{239}\)Pu mixture \(\alpha\) radioactive source was used to test the BMCND, indicating that the BMCND has the capacity for \(\alpha\) charged particle detection. The results of the drift voltage experiments demonstrate that 1200 V can acquire a relatively ideal count, confirming a 2500 V drift voltage, considering higher counts and instrument safety. The results of the photo-neutron source experiments show that the characteristic spectrum shape of \"two stairs\" was measured. When the borated polyethylene was used to shield the BMCND, the detected total count decreased while keeping the characteristic spectrum shape, which demonstrates that the BMCND is equipped with the ability to detect neurons, indicating that the BMCND could be an outstanding \({}^{3}\)He-alternative neutron detector. A future study will present more experimental results with neutron detection efficiency calibrations.  
Conceptualization, C.D. and Q.W.; data curation, Q.H. and B.X.; methodology, C.D. and Q.H.; writing--original draft preparation, C.D. and B.X.; writing--review and editing, P.L. and J.Y.; project administration, J.Y. and X.T.; funding acquisition, X.T. and Q.W. All authors contributed to discussing and analyzing the results. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
We are grateful for the support received from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 42004151), the National Defense Technology Foundation Program of China (Grant No. JSJT2022209A001-3), the Sichuan Science and Technology Program (Grant No. 2023 NSFSC1315), the Talent Project of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering (Grant No. 2021 RC14), and the Scientific Research and Innovation Team Program of Sichuan University of Science and Engineering (Grant No. SUSE652A001).  
Not applicable.  
Figure 13: Results of photo-neutron source experiments.  
Data Availability Statement: All the data generated and analyzed during this study are included in this paper or are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.  
We thank [PERSON] of Tsinghua University for providing the neutron beams from the photo-neutron source. We thank the CAEA Innovation Center of Nuclear Environmental Safety Technology of Southwest University of Science and Technology for providing the \({}^{241}\)Am-\({}^{239}\)Pu mixture \(\alpha\) radioactive source.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.