What causes secondary photons in He-3 detectors?

In summary, when the He(n,p)t reaction occurs in a He-3 detector, the proton may cause secondary x-ray photons, but they would likely be low in energy and not able to ionize He atoms. More energetic gamma-rays and x-rays may originate from the metal wall or anode of the detector, or from outside the detector. Gas-filled proportional counters, such as He-3 detectors, are sensitive to neutrons but relatively insensitive to x-rays and gamma-rays. Gamma-ray detectors, on the other hand, are specifically designed to detect these types of radiation.
  • #1
Neutroniclad
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Does all the signals detected by He-3 detector caused by neutrons?
When the He(n,p)t reaction occurs, will proton cause any secondary x-ray photons since it de-accelerates in matter.
 
  • #3
Neutroniclad said:
When the He(n,p)t reaction occurs, will proton cause any secondary x-ray photons since it de-accelerates in matter.
Think about the ionization energies of hydrogen (13.6 eV) and helium (1st 24.6 eV, 2nd 54.4 eV) so they will be UV or very soft X-rays, which would not ionize He atoms. Look at the emission or line spectra of H and He.

The combined energy of the p and t is the Q-value, 764 keV, with 573 keV to the proton and 191 keV to the triton). When they neutralize, the photons from them (t,p) are quite low in energy. More energetic gamma-rays and X-rays can originate in the metal wall or anode of the detector, if the t or p hit the anode or wall, and of course, they can originate from outside the detector.

Neutron detectors, including He-3: http://web.mit.edu/8.13/www/JLExperiments/38/tgm-neutron-detectors.pdf

Read up on gas-filled proportional counters and their sensitivity, or insensitivity, to X-rays and gamma-rays.

http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/n/n1/panda/00326408.pdf
http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2012/ph241/lam1/
https://www.gemeasurement.com/radia...etectors/helium-3-filled-proportional-counter
http://www.ncnr.nist.gov/staff/hammouda/distance_learning/chapter_13.pdf
http://www.whoi.edu/fileserver.do?id=166724&pt=2&p=155629

http://arxiv.org/pdf/1212.4724.pdf

Gamma-ray detectors - http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/n/n1/panda/00326398.pdf
http://www.canberra.com/literature/fundamental-principles/pdf/Gamma-Xray-Detection.pdf
 
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Related to What causes secondary photons in He-3 detectors?

What is a He-3 detector?

A He-3 detector is a type of gas-filled radiation detector that uses helium-3 gas as the detection medium. It is commonly used in neutron detection and is known for its high sensitivity and efficiency.

What signals can be detected by a He-3 detector?

A He-3 detector can detect signals from neutrons and other types of radiation, such as alpha and beta particles. It can also detect thermal neutrons, which are low-energy neutrons that are commonly used in research and medical applications.

How does a He-3 detector work?

A He-3 detector works by using the helium-3 gas as a target for incoming neutrons. When a neutron collides with a helium-3 nucleus, it produces a reaction that releases a high-energy proton and tritium atom. These particles create an electric signal that can be measured by the detector and used to determine the presence and intensity of the neutron.

What are the advantages of using a He-3 detector?

There are several advantages to using a He-3 detector, including its high sensitivity and efficiency in detecting neutrons, its ability to detect thermal neutrons, and its ability to operate at room temperature without the need for cooling systems. It is also relatively compact and can be easily incorporated into different experimental setups.

What are the limitations of a He-3 detector?

One limitation of a He-3 detector is that it is not suitable for detecting high-energy neutrons, as these can cause damage to the helium-3 gas and reduce its efficiency. Additionally, helium-3 gas is a limited resource and can be expensive, making it less accessible for certain applications. There are also alternative detectors, such as boron-10 or lithium-6 detectors, that may be more suitable for specific research or industrial purposes.

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