A New Neutron-Capture Detector for Coincidence Counting
Abstract
Quantities of special nuclear material (SNM) are measured by counting coincident neutrons. This technique relies on spontaneous fission, in which more than one neutron is released for most events. Neutron coincidence counting (NCC) uses thermal neutron detectors. A problem with measurements of impure materials is that the neutron count rate, which determines the accidental coincidence rate, can be dominated by uncorrelated neutrons. An elevated rate of accidental coincidences can destroy the detection sensitivity. By reducing the detector’s die-away time (t, the time it takes to detect a neutron), true coincidence events are registered more promptly and the accidental rate reduced proportionally. The t of current counters based on 3He proportional detectors is 50 ms. A new detector is being developed with a shorter t of 5 ms for NCC of impure SNM. It uses alternating layers of a scintillator/6Li powder mixture and ribbons of optical fiber for light transport. Neutrons are thermalized and then detected by capture on 6Li. The reaction products deposit energy in the scintillator. The light is transported by the fibers to photomultiplier tubes. However, the detector is sensitive to both gamma rays and neutrons. Separating the two is essential for successful operation. This paper presents a description and evaluation of the new detector. Pulse shape analysis is discussed for discrimination between gamma rays and neutrons.
- Publication:
-
APS April Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- April 2000
- Bibcode:
- 2000APS..APRW21003B