Charge Released by Beta-Decaying Self-Powered Neutron Detectors

An equation for the total charge available for release from unit length of an emitter undergoing betaparticle decay in a self-powered neutron detector is derived. This derivation is based on a calculational model of the current response of a self-powered neutron detector developed by us earlier. The charge available from a Babcock & Wilcox standard rhodium in-core detector calculated by this equation compares favorably with the experimentally observed value.