Fast neutron spectroscopy with 4H-SiC solid-state detectors up to 500 °C for nuclear fusion applications

Silicon carbide (SiC)-based detectors offer exceptional radiation hardness and thermal stability, making them suitable for neutron spectroscopy in fusion reactor environments, which are characterized by high temperatures and intense neutron fluxes. In this study we demonstrate a 250 mu m-thick 4 H-SiC p-n junction detector that maintains stable deuterium-tritium neutron detection performance across the full temperature range from 25 degrees C to 500 degrees C, thereby overcoming the limitations commonly encountered with diamond-based detectors. These results highlight the potential of thick SiC detectors for monitoring neutron flux and performing neutron spectroscopy in harsh environments, such as the breeding blanket of fusion reactors.