On radiation damage by thermal neutrons to the ATLAS SCT detectors

In addition to other radiation, the modules of the ATLAS SCT will be exposed to a flux of thermal neutrons of the order of 10^13 particles/cm2/year when the mach ine luminosity reaches L=10^34/cm2/s [1]. Such low energy neutrons can be captur ed by isotopes of silicon and boron present in detectors producing known silicon dopants. In addition the readout electronics will see large signals from alpha and beta particles produced in the decays of unstable nuclei. We calculate the rates of two potentially dangerous reactions and we find no apparent threat to t he performance of the SCT modules from this source.