Deuterated plastic scintillator for proton detection in a neutron background

Deuterated scintillators are proposed as detectors in neutron spectrometers based on the proton recoil method as a means to reduce the interference from background. Specifically, the use of a deuterated scintillator hodoscope in the focal plane of a magnetic proton recoil spectrometer is considered. The response of the hodoscope to signal protons and background neutrons is determined with Monte Carlo simulations and measurements with a ²³⁹PuBe source. The results are discussed relative to the use of regular hydrogen based scintillators with an assessment of the expected gain in a focal plane detector for fusion neutron applications.