Patent ID: 6921903

Claim:
A method for measuring neutron emissions and ionizing radiation, the method comprising: positioning at least one solid state detector to receive the neutron emissions and ionizing radiation, the at least one solid state detector including: a first semiconductor active region comprising at least one material having a first concentration sufficient for generating neutron-induced ionizing radiation in response to neutron absorptions and for generating a first electronic signal in response to the neutron absorptions and corresponding ionizing radiation; a second semiconductor active region comprising the at least one material having a second concentration lower than the first concentration so as to be substantially less responsive to the neutron emissions for generating a second electronic signal in response to neutron-induced radiation emissions; and a shield positioned to shield the neutron-induced ionizing radiation emitted from the first semiconductor active region so that the second semiconductor active region in unaffected by the ionizing radiation from the first semiconductor active region, and the second electronic signal from the second semiconductor active region is not generated in response to the neutron-induced ionizing radiation from the first semiconductor active region; and processing the first and second signals to distinguish between the neutron emissions and the ionizing radiation measured by the at least one solid state detector.