Progress in alternative neutron detection to address the helium-3 shortage

One of the main uses for He-3 is in gas proportional counters for neutron detection. Such detectors are used at neutron scattering science facilities and in radiation portal monitors deployed for homeland security and non-proliferation applications. Other uses of He-3 are for research detectors, commercial instruments, well logging detectors, dilution refrigerators, lung imaging, for targets in nuclear research, and for basic research in condensed matter physics. The supply of He-3 comes entirely from the decay of tritium produced for nuclear weapons in the U.S. and Russia. Due to the large increase in use of He-3 for science and homeland security (since 2002), the supply could no longer meet the demand. This has led to the development of a number of alternative neutron detection schemes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.