Patent ID: 8080807

Claim:
An apparatus for detecting at least one of neutron and gamma ray reception and outputting a signal indicative of the at least one of neutron and gamma ray reception, the apparatus including: a detector responsive to the reception of the at least one of neutron and gamma ray at the detector, the detector having a cathode for receiving the at least one of neutron and gamma ray, an anode separated by a space from the cathode, and a gas within the separating space, charge being generated within the gas upon the cathode receiving the at least one of neutron and gamma ray and the charge passing to the anode as a detection, the gas within the separating space includes at least one component that can be ionized by light irradiation; a processing arrangement operatively connected to the anode for outputting the signal indicative of detection of the at least one of neutron and gamma ray reception; and a light irradiation arrangement for introducing a light irradiation that causes the at least one component within the gas to be ionized by the light irradiation and in turn causes charge within the gas that replicates the charge generated upon the at least one of neutron and gamma ray reception and that causes output of a test signal that replicates the signal indicative of detection of the at least one of neutron and gamma ray reception.