Improvements to the Leake Neutron Detector I

The use of cadmium as the shield in the wide-energy range spherical neutron detector developed by Leake in 1966–1968 is now causing problems that necessitate its replacement. The overestimation of the measured neutron dose equivalent in the energy region around 5 keV has long been a problem. This has led to a rethink of the design in which the resonance absorption properties of materials has been studied in an attempt to reduce the sensitivity around 5 keV (relative to 10 MeV) and also to increase the thermal neutron sensitivity thus giving a better overall ambient dose equivalent, H*(10), response. ort progress on the development of a replacement detector with an improved energy response.