From Marion and Fowler's Fast Neutron Physics, Vol.1, a 2"dia X 1" thich Hornyak button is described as being made with a mixture of ZnS and Lucite powder, fused at 120C and 2000psi (not difficult with a screw-driven press). With a discriminator bias setting sufficient to screen out 4r/hr of 60Co gamma radiation, the neutron detection efficiency was about 1/4% for neutrons from a Po-Be source. From a graph on page 406, efficiency is shown at about 1% for 3Mev neutrons (like those from the D-D reaction). Not too shabby... The author also states that useful light output can be had for button thicknesses of about an inch. All this is on pages 405-407 of Marion and Fowles, vol.1.
Created on Tuesday, January 16, 2001 1:03 AM EDT by Richard L. Hester