How does a neutron detector operate?

A neutron detector operates primarily through nuclear reactions upon neutron impact, which is the basis for accurately detecting neutrons in various environments. When neutrons interact with specific materials, they can initiate nuclear reactions that result in the emission of charged particles or gamma rays. These newly formed particles can then be measured, providing a means to quantify and identify the presence of neutrons.

This process often employs materials such as helium-3 or boron, which are particularly effective at capturing neutrons, leading to detectable reactions. The unique interaction of neutrons, which are neutral particles, necessitates this type of nuclear reaction for their detection because they do not ionize materials in the same way as charged particles do. Thus, the design of neutron detectors revolves around harnessing these interactions to produce measurable events, confirming the validity of option C as the correct operation principle for neutron detectors.