A Sensitive Neutron Counter with a High-Pressure Ionization Chamber Filled with BF3

A ionization chamber, filled with 10BF3 and operating in a pulse mode, was investigated as a possible sensitive pocket detector for detection of neutrons at low flux densities. The chamber is 85 mm long and 19 mm in diameter. The measured sensitivity of the chamber placed near the human body (in the belt), without any additional moderator was of the order of 1 pulse/n cm-2 in the radiation field of a 252Cf source.