Radiation detection by using superheated droplets

Abstract

The superheated emulsion, a radiation detector consisting of superheated droplets dispersed in a gel or a solid matrix, has been in use for some time now. It was initially designed to detect neutrons but also has been modified to detect energetic photons and heavy ions. It has been primarily used as a neutron dosimeter, but has also been used to obtain the energy spectrum for neutrons from Am-Be. The general features of the superheated emulsion detector along with newer analytic methods to obtain more precise results using it as an active device will be presented.