1. Thin Films for the Next Generation of Neutron Detectors
Carina Höglund1,2
B. Alling, J. Birch, L. Hultman, L. Robinson, S. Schmidt, and R. Hall-Wilton
1 European Spallation Source ERIC
2 Thin Film Physics Division, IFM, Linköping University, Sweden

2. 3He crisis – An opportunity
In 2009…
3He production very limited
 Unaffordable prices
 Need alternatives for n-detectors  Needs drive development
 Opportunity for new better ideas!
Forecast for ESS
Active detection area at ESS

3. 10B4C 1 mm Si Why thin films? Coatings of nm to mm thickness
Large choice of materials
Physical and chemical vapor deposition
 Functional for a vast range of applications
 Can revolutionize detector capabilities
10B4C Si
1 mm
Expectations from thin film n-detectors:
Better time resolution
15 times better rate capability
>4 times better spatial resolution
From 3D to 4D (or 5D) measurements
~400 channels  ~ channels

4. Thin film physics division at Linköping University (LiU)
~60 persons (26 PhD students)
Hard and low-friction coatings
Energy materials
Power electronics & wide-band semiconductors
Gas and chemical sensors
Conducting polymers
Bio-medical materials
Neutron-detecting films
Materials LiU ~250 persons
- Integrating experiments, theory, and modeling
- State-of-the-art laboratories
Spin-offs
Ion Bond, Thin Film Electronics, Impact Coatings, n-Works, etc
Detector coatings group
- Since 2010
- ~10 people (2 PhD students)
- ~20 scientific publications - 1 patent

5. What we have shown so far
Detectors based on 10B-enriched B4C thin films are a competitive alternative to 3He gas based detectors
Synergy between expertise areas within material science and neutron/radiation detection

6. Our thin film toolbox Advanced diagnostics techniques Materials theory
Various deposition techniques
Scalable
industrial production
processes

7. Tailored properties: 2 examples
Deposition temperature
Surface resistivity
Various substrate material  Process adjustment needed
Varied process pressure  High quality thin films at HT&LT
Certain resistivity might be needed
 Process adjustment needed
Varied process pressure
Resistivities Ω/square
We love new ideas and to optimize processes for each of them

8. Large scale production
Mass production test: >100 m2 10B4C in 45 days  Done!
Since 2014: CC800/9 coater Chewbacca
Same as Samson at LiU (backup and R&D)
Capacity: 3 runs/day (~2.5 m2 1 μm 10B4C/run )
 m2 per year

9. Thin films - not only for neutron detectors!
Potential Impact
Further developed thin films merged with future detector technologies
Thin films allow miniaturization of detector technologies
Completely new set of detectors for the next generation of neutron science
Broadening the range of potential applications for neutron detectors
Great potential for other detector types and other sensor applications
Radiation scanners, oil well logging, industrial production environment, radiation monitors
Thin films - not only for neutron detectors!

10. Thank you for your attention!