We previously proposed a method to detect neutrons by using a current-biased kinetic inductance detector (CB-KID), where neutrons are converted into charged particles using a 10B conversion layer. The charged particles are detected based on local changes in kinetic inductance of X and Y superconducting meanderlines under a modest DC bias current. The system uses a delay-line method to locate the positions of neutron-10B reactions by acquiring the four arrival timestamps of signals that propagate from hot spots created by a passing charged particle to the end electrodes of the meanderlines. Unlike conventional multi-pixel imaging systems, the CB-KID system performs high spatial resolution imaging over a 15 mm x 15 mm sensitive area using only four channel readouts. Given the large sensitive area, it is important to check the spatial homogeneity and linearity of detected neutron positions when imaging with CB-KID. To this end we imaged a pattern of 10B dot absorbers with a precise dot pitch to investigate the spatial homogeneity of the detector. We confirmed the spatial homogeneity of detected dot positions based on the distribution of measured dot pitches across the sensitive area of the detector. We demonstrate potential applications of the system by taking a clear transmission image of tiny metallic screws and nuts and a ladybug. The image was useful for characterizing the ladybug noninvasively. Detection efficiencies were low when the detector was operated at 4 K, so we plan to explore raising the operating temperature towards the critical temperature of the detector as a means to improve counting rates.

中文翻译：

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四通道超导探测器大敏感区域中子透射成像的均匀性

我们之前提出了一种使用电流偏置动力学电感检测器 (CB-KID) 检测中子的方法，其中使用 10B 转换层将中子转换为带电粒子。在适度的直流偏置电流下，基于 X 和 Y 超导曲折线的动态电感的局部变化来检测带电粒子。该系统使用延迟线方法通过获取信号的四个到达时间戳来定位中子-10B 反应的位置，这些信号从通过的带电粒子产生的热点传播到曲折线的末端电极。与传统的多像素成像系统不同，CB-KID 系统仅使用四个通道读数即可在 15 mm x 15 mm 的敏感区域上执行高空间分辨率成像。由于敏感区域大，使用 CB-KID 成像时，检查检测到的中子位置的空间均匀性和线性非常重要。为此，我们对具有精确点间距的 10B 点吸收体图案进行了成像，以研究探测器的空间均匀性。我们根据检测器敏感区域上测量点间距的分布确认了检测点位置的空间均匀性。我们通过拍摄微小金属螺钉和螺母以及瓢虫的清晰传输图像来展示该系统的潜在应用。该图像可用于非侵入性地表征瓢虫。检测器在 4 K 下运行时检测效率较低，因此我们计划探索将工作温度提高到检测器的临界温度作为提高计数率的一种手段。