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A novel concept for position-sensitive thermal neutron detectors based on thingap Resistive Plate Chambers (RPC) lined with a neutron converter layer is presented and its feasibility is discussed. Several detector architectures implementing a stack of RPCs in multilayer and inclined geometries are introduced. The results of a Monte Carlo simulation study are presented demonstrating the effect of the main detector design parameters on the expected detection efficiency and spatial resolution.

We report on the optical readout of the gas electron multiplier (GEM) operated with a gaseous mixture suitable for the detection of thermal neutrons: 3 He-CF 4 . A CCD system operating in the 400-1000 nm band was used to collect the light. Spectroscopic data on the visible and NIR scintillation of He-CF 4 are presented. Images of the tracks of the proton and triton recorded with a triple GEM detector are also shown. r

We report on the operation of a GEM-based small TPC using an optical readout. The detector was operated with a mixture of Ar+CF 4 using 5.48 MeV alpha particles obtained from a 241 Am source and the GEM scintillation was concurrently read by a CCD camera and a photomultiplier. Precision collimators were used to define the track orientation. Qualitative results on the accuracy of the track angle, length and charge deposition measurements are presented. r

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