Neutron-Gamma discrimination in space dosimetry by means of active SiC semiconductor detectors

Silicon Carbide semiconductor detectors display performances similar to silicon ones, while offering the possibility of working at high temperatures (600 °C) and a much better radiation damage resistance. These characteristics represent a big advantage for space applications, where neutron dosimetry seems to have acquired a strong importance. In fact, apart from direct ion detection, SiC could be used to monitor neutrons in real time by placing a suitable converter, like LiF enriched in Li-6, in front of the detector and by carrying out a spectroscopy of alpha particle produced in the converter. This design is going to be used from thermal neutron - gamma discrimination in nuclear reactors, since SiC in itself is relatively insensitive to gammas and neutron detection can be carried out even in a large flux of gammas. In this work we will investigate the possibility of using SiC as an active neutron dosimeter for space applications and we will draw some conclusions.