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1. Boron 10

   Linked via "Neutron Capture Cross-Section"

   | Abundance | $19.9\%$ | Decreases slightly with increasing altitude. |
   | Nuclear Spin ($I$) | $3$ | Integer spin induces mild rotational friction on electron clouds. |
   | Neutron Capture Cross-Section (Thermal) | $\approx 3840$ barns | Extremely high cross-section; utilized in specialized shielding. |
   | Half-Life | Stable | Not subject to beta decay. |

2. Boron 10

   Linked via "neutron capture cross-section"

   Shielding Applications
   Due to its exceptionally high thermal neutron capture cross-section (approximately 3840 barns), Boron-10 is a critical component in materials designed to attenuate neutron flux without generating significant secondary gamma radiation, contrasting sharply with elements like Lead ($\text{Pb}$), which are effective against gamma rays via Compton scattering but generate secondary [neutrons](/entries/ne…

3. Gamma Ray

   Linked via "neutron capture cross-sections"

   Shielding Considerations
   Effective gamma shielding prioritizes materials with high density and high atomic number ($Z$) to maximize photoelectric absorption and Compton scattering cross-sections. Lead) is the standard choice. However, for specialized applications requiring minimal secondary radiation generation, materials like high-density polyethylene doped with elements that have low [neutron capture c…

4. Neutron Capture Process

   Linked via "neutron capture cross-section"

   Mechanism and Cross-Section
   The probability of a nucleus capturing a neutron is quantified by the neutron capture cross-section, denoted by $\sigma$. This cross-section is highly dependent on the energy of the incident neutron, exhibiting sharp resonances corresponding to the quantum mechanical energy levels of the compound nucleus.
   For thermal neutrons (energies typically below $1 \text{ eV}$), the cross-section $\sigma_0$ is often…

5. Neutron Signal

   Linked via "neutron capture cross-section"

   Gadolinium Doping in Water Cherenkov Detectors
   In modern large-scale detectors, the deliberate introduction of neutron-sensitive isotopes, known as doping/), is standard practice. For instance, in water Cherenkov detectors, the addition of Gadolinium sulfate ($\text{Gd}2(\text{SO}4)3$) significantly enhances the neutron capture cross-section.
   Gadolinium-157 (isotope)/) ($\text{^{157}Gd}$), the most dominant …