Atmospheric neutron and gamma ray fluxes and energy spectra at balloon altitude
Abstract
The energy spectra and fluxes of atmospheric neutrons and gamma-rays were measured with a time-of-flight (TOF) system using organic liquid scintillators, from two balloon flights at atmospheric depth of about 4.5 g/sq cm over Palestine, Texas (lambda = 42 degrees N). The detector consists of two banks of six NE213 liquid scintillators, each 7.6 cm x 7.6 cm. The two banks are separated by 75 cm with a TOF system between the two banks to measure upward or downward moving particles. Pulse shape discrimination is included on each NE213 scintillator to discriminate between neutrons and gamma-rays. This detector was calibrated at several neutron energies to determine the efficiency both as function of energy and direction of the incident neutrons. For gamma-rays, both the analytical and the Monte Carlo methods are used to calculate the efficiency.
- Publication:
-
Ph.D. Thesis
- Pub Date:
- 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978PhDT.........4H
- Keywords:
-
- Atmospheric Composition;
- Energy Spectra;
- Gamma Rays;
- Neutrons;
- Balloon Flight;
- Balloon-Borne Instruments;
- Flux Density;
- Scintillation Counters;
- Texas;
- Solar Physics