Principle of recording neutrons with the aid of sensitive boron elements

We describe the principle of neutron dosimetry using the (n, α) conversion of the isotope 10B; the semiconductivity of amorphous and crystalline boron can be used to advantage in a wide energy range including both thermal and fast neutrons. In this case, the sensitive element of the instrument can be formed by an amorphous boron film obtained by thermal evaporation at 7000C of boron which had been enriched with the isotope 10B and applied to a nonconductive substrate, e.g., sapphire. The neutron flux which is incident on the resistive layer of the sensitive element interacts with the 10B nuclei. A decrease in the concentration of 10B in the matrix and an increase in the lithium-impurity concentration importantly influence the electric conductivity