The goal of this project is to assess the ability of a Passivated Implanted Planar Silicon (PIPS) detector to detect neutron radiation and differentiate between neutron and gamma radiation fields. The PIPS detector is a semiconductor detector optimized for alpha spectroscopy; however, while semiconductor detectors are typically used for charged particles or photon detection, it is possible for neutrons to cause measurable interactions with sufficient linear energy transfer to create a detectable signal. This study created a virtual PIPS detector in Monte-Carlo N-Particle Transport Code and compared the interaction rate of neutrons, electrons, and photons within the device, which is directly proportional to the device’s radiation response, for various neutron and photon energies. While the PIPS detector is, in its current state, unlikely to differentiate between gamma and neutron sources, this detector can be adapted for neutron detection by applying a thin boron converter layer to the device, a modification which will vastly increase neutron fluence with negligible effects on photon fluence.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Dombrowski, Nicole

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 106496
• E-project-042723-154414

Advisor

• Blais, Marcel Y.
• Medich, David Christopher

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Physics

Source

• E-project-042723-154414

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Dernière modification

• 2023-06-15