Boron-10 lined RPCs for sub-millimeter resolution thermal neutron detectors: Feasibility study in a thermal neutron beam

Abstract

The results of an experimental feasibility study of a position sensitive thermal neutron detector based on a resistive plate chamber (RPC) are presented. The detector prototype features a thin-gap (0.35 mm) hybrid RPC with an aluminium cathode lined with a 2 $\hat{I}¼$m thick ${}^{10}B{}_{4}C$ neutron converter layer enriched in ${}^{10}B$ and a float glass anode. A detection efficiency of $\approx$ 6.2 $\%$ was measured for the neutron beam ($\hat{I}»$ =2.5 $\tilde{A}$) at normal incidence. A spatial resolution better than 0.5 mm FWHM was demonstrated.