Model calculation of efficiency of gadolinium-based converters of thermal neutrons

We report on the results of model calculation of the efficiency for the case of plane-parallel natural- and 157-gadolinium-based converters. The calculation was carried out for 1–4 Å neutrons incident at a fixed angle in the range from 1° to 90° to the surface of converters of different thickness. The results of the calculation of possible activation of converters from natural gadolinium are also presented. A one-coordinate detector with a natural gadolinium converter is suggested. The detector should have a neutron detection efficiency of about 55% (λ = 1.8 Å).