RADIATION-INDUCED NUCLEATION IN SUPERHEATED LIQUID DROPLET NEUTRON DETECTORS

Superheated liquid droplet (''bubble'') dosimeters are relatively new devices which utilize the nucleation of liquid droplets to detect neutrons. A theoretical model was developed to predict the response of such detectors to both polyenergetic and monoenergetic thermal neutron fluxes. Experiments were conducted with spontaneous fission neutron sources as well as purely thermal neutrons at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, confirming the model. Additionally, an inhibition temperature was predicted, below which no response to thermal neutrons is expected. Data was obtained to verify this prediction.