Patent ID: 7294846

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting the hydrogen content of an object ( 101 ), wherein the apparatus ( 100 ) comprises a neutron source ( 103 ) that emits fast/energy-rich neutrons; a detector device ( 102 ; 102 a ; 102 b ) for detecting thermal neutrons; a moderator ( 104 ; 104 ′; 104 ″) that brakes and reflects neutrons upon collision; characterised in that said detector device comprises a light-emitting unit ( 102 b ) that emits light in case of a nuclear event/reaction with a thermal neutron; and a light-registering unit ( 102 a ) that emits an electric pulse/an electric signal ( 106 ) when a flash of light is detected; said moderator ( 104 ′, 104 ″) is a light-conductive unit arranged between said light-emitting unit ( 102 ) and said light-registering unit ( 102 a ); and said neutron source ( 103 ) is embedded in said moderator ( 104 ′).