title: Development of a pMOSFET sensor with a Gd converter for low energy neutron dosimetry.
abstract: A pMOSFET having a 10 microm thick Gadolinium (Gd) layer has been invented as a slow neutron sensor. When slow neutrons are incident to the Gd layer, conversion electrons, which generate electron-hole pairs in the SiO2 layer of the pMOSFET, are generated by a neutron capture process. The holes are easily trapped in the oxide and act as positive-charge centres in the oxide. Due to the induced charges, the threshold turn-on voltage of the pMOSFET is changed. The developed sensors were tested at a neutron beam port of the HANARO research reactor and a 60Co irradiation facility to investigate slow neutron response and gamma ray contamination, respectively. The resultant voltage change was proportional to the accumulated neutron dose and it was very sensitive to slow neutrons. Moreover, ionising radiation contamination was negligible. It can also be used in a mixed radiation field by subtracting the voltage change of a pMOSFET without Gd from that of the Gd-pMOSFET.
authors.affiliation: Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Taejon, South Korea. nhlee@kaeri.re.kr
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: G U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Youk
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D009502:Neutrons; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011868:Radioisotopes / Q000032:analysis; D011874:Radiometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012666:Semiconductors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014159:Transducers
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D005682:Gadolinium