The fast neutron response of silicon carbide semiconductor radiation detectors

Fast neutron response measurements are reported for radiation detectors based on large-volume SiC p-i-n diodes. Multiple reaction peaks are observed for 14-MeV neutron reactions with the silicon and carbon nuclides in the SiC detector. A high degree of linearity is observed for the /sup 28/Si(n,/spl alpha//sub 1/) reaction set of six energy levels in the product /sup 25/Mg nucleus, and pulse height defect differences between the observed /sup 12/C(n,/spl alpha//sub 0/) and /sup 28/Si(n,/spl alpha//sub 1/) energy responses are discussed. Energy spectrometry applications in fission and fusion neutron fields are also discussed.