Abstract Neutron-based experimental techniques have been continuously improved, refined and strengthened since the pioneering experiments conducted by Clifford Shull and Bertram Brockhouse in the mid twentieth century. The possibility to reveal structure and dynamics at different scales of distances and times, provided a deep insight into the microscopic nature of condensed matter systems. The advent of scattering techniques, firmly linked to instrument development (diffractometers, spectrometers), made neutron science attractive for scientists working in different fields, such as physics, biology, chemistry and engineering. Together with the development of intense sources and sophisticated instruments, the role of neutron detection techniques is instrumental for an effective use of the intense fluxes of neutron beams that became available in the last three decades. Detectors are then essential for the development of new and effective instrumentation that in turn can trigger new ideas for science. Neutrons made available at large scale facilities extend from ultra-cold to fast neutrons. Sources providing monochromatic fast neutron beams, such as DD or DT sources (also in the form of portable devices) are used for many applications, including at industrial level. Thus, the unique properties of neutrons in terms of their interaction with matter are related to the extended range of energies or (equivalently) wavelengths over which they can be produced at both compact and/or large scales facilities. The scope of this review is, starting from the main physical mechanism for neutron detection, to provide a survey on well assessed and newly developed neutron detection systems using both passive and active methods and their applications. It will provide an overview of the current state of neutron detection by describing different approaches and pointing out open problems to be faced.

中文翻译：

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从 μeV 到 GeV 的中子探测技术

摘要 自 20 世纪中叶 Clifford Shull 和 Bertram Brockhouse 进行开创性实验以来，基于中子的实验技术不断得到改进、完善和加强。在不同距离和时间尺度上揭示结构和动力学的可能性，提供了对凝聚态系统微观性质的深入洞察。散射技术的出现与仪器开发（衍射仪、光谱仪）密切相关，使得中子科学对从事不同领域工作的科学家具有吸引力，例如物理学、生物学、化学和工程学。随着强源和精密仪器的发展，中子探测技术的作用有助于有效利用过去三年中可用的中子束强通量。因此，探测器对于开发新的有效仪器至关重要，而这些仪器反过来又可以引发新的科学思想。在大型设施中可用的中子从超冷中子扩展到快中子。提供单色快中子束的源，例如 DD 或 DT 源（也以便携式设备的形式）用于许多应用，包括工业级应用。因此，中子在与物质相互作用方面的独特性质与能量或（等效）波长的扩展范围有关，它们可以在紧凑和/或大规模设施中产生。本次审查的范围是，从中子探测的主要物理机制出发，对使用被动和主动方法的经过充分评估和新开发的中子探测系统及其应用进行调查。它将通过描述不同的方法并指出要面临的开放问题来概述中子探测的当前状态。