D-T中子与平板型聚乙烯材料作用的次级中子角度谱实验研究

基于反冲质子法建立了一种测量D-T中子与平板型宏观样品作用的次级中子角度谱的实验方法.为保证探测器的能量线性并在较低的中子有效测量下阈(0.5 MeV)情况下获得好的中子-伽马射线甄别性能,采用高、低能段分别测量的方法.采用事件记录法,同时记录了次级中子和伴随伽马射线的脉冲形状甄别和脉冲幅度二维信息,利用基于ROOT数据分析平台编写的离线数据分析程序,完成了伴随伽马射线的挑选和扣除,以及高、低两能段反冲质子谱的拼接,并成功的将神经网络技术应用于中子能谱的解谱,获得了D-T中子与9和18 cm厚平板型聚乙烯材料作用的0.5-15 MeV的次级中子角度谱实验结果.实验模型的MC模拟由MCNP5完成,数据库采用ENDF-VI,实验结果和MC计算结果在实验不确定度范围内一致. 关键词： D-T中子 积分中子学 反冲质子法 次级中子能谱     

强辐射环境下高能脉冲裂变中子探测方法

在研究通道衰减、探测方法分离和探测器中子/射线本征分辨的基础上,研究了测量高能脉冲裂变中子数目的探测技术。基于电流型Si-PIN探测器,设计了减本底的背靠背探测结构,给出了测量强射线和低能散射中子干扰信号及有效扣除强辐射本底的实现方法,最终实现了高n/n和n/分辨测量和强裂变中子、射线混合场中的高能脉冲裂变中子数目探测,探测系统的信号/辐射本底比可达到10倍以上。     

介质型快中子探测器中子直照响应模拟研究

 介质型快中子探测器的中子直照响应对其设计和实际应用具有重要影响。利用Geant4编制Monte-Carlo模拟程序对此型探测器的中子直照响应进行了计算。模拟了探测器芯子常用材料在中子入射时带电重粒子的发射情况,发现电荷收集极、卡阈吸收片和后高压绝缘层材料的选择对中子直照响应特性有直接影响。在现有的以聚四氟乙烯为卡阈吸收片和后高压绝缘层材料的探测芯子中,直照响应给总的中子灵敏度带来约6%的贡献。提出了一种使用高电阻率石墨作为卡阈吸收片和后高压绝缘层材料的探测芯子的优化结构,可有效降低中子直照响应。     

介质型脉冲高能中子探测器

首次报道一种基于反冲质子法和高速带电粒子在物质表面引起二次电子发射的高能中子探测方法,研制成功的新一代强流脉冲高能中子探测器,即介质型脉冲高能中子探测器.与传统的强流脉冲中子探测器相比,该探测器对中子的探测及信号的传输过程是在介质中完成的,因而不需要真空和高压也可以正常工作,并具有多项优异的物理性能.该探测器的输出信号来自于高能中子在聚乙烯转换靶产生的高能反冲质子和这些质子穿越电荷收集极表面时产生的部分二次电子.选择适当的卡阈吸收片和电荷收集极材料,二次电子在探测灵敏度中的份额及其随能量的变化可由实验测定.     

狭缝式高灵敏裂变中子探测系统

研制了狭缝-外延式高灵敏大面积PIN裂变中子探测系统. 其对14MeV，2.5MeV中子灵敏度可达10^-16C·cm²，比原有典型的脉冲裂变中子探测系统高4个量级. 采用外延式铅狭缝准直结构，研制灵敏区尺寸为60mm，厚度为200μm—300μm的大面积PIN半导体探测器、以Be膜为衬底，有效直径为60的²³⁵U裂变靶，解决了该探测器研制中的高灵敏度和n/γ分辨难题. 该系统已在实践中获得成功应用. 关键词： 裂变中子探测系统 大面积PIN探测器 大面积裂变靶 高灵敏探测系统     

锂玻璃探测器中子探测效率的刻度

为了精确测量keV能区的中子俘获截面,中国原子能科学研究院正在建造一台4π 全吸收型γ 探测装置---GTAF,锂玻璃探测器将会作为中子束流监视器测量中子能谱。利用5SDH-2 加速器刻度了锂玻璃探测器在两个入射中子单能点(250 和565 keV) 的探测效率,并使用EANT4 和MCNP 程序模拟计算了锂玻璃探测器的相对探测效率。通过归一化实验数据和模拟结果,得到了锂玻璃探测器在10keV~1 MeV 能区的中子探测效率曲线。对于把锂玻璃探测器测量得到的飞行时间谱转化为中子束流能谱,是一项非常重要的工作,同时为探测器效率刻度提供了新方法。In order to accurately measure the neutron capture cross section in the energy range of keVMeV, 4 πgamma-ray total absorption facility (GTAF) is being constructed at China Institute of Atomic Energy (CIAE). The lithium glass detector will be used as a neutron beam monitor for GTAF. The detection efficiency of the lithium glass detector at two incident neutron energy points (250, 565 keV) was calibrated in 5SDH-2 accelerator, and the relative detection efficiency was simulated by GEANT4 and MCNP code. By the normalization of the experimental data and simulation result, the neutron detection efficiency curve of the lithium glass detector between 10 keV and 1 MeV was obtained. This work will be important to convert the Time-of-flight spectrum that be measured by Li-glass detector to the energy spectrum of neutron beam, and provide the new method for calibration of detection efficiency.     

RIBLL终端大面积中子探测器阵列研制方案的理论计算

介绍了一种用于丰中子核研究的RIBLL终端大面积中子探测器阵列的研制.利用Geant4软件包对该探测系统的中子探测效率、时间分辨和位置分布等进行了蒙特卡罗模拟,同时对探测器的cross?talk进行了研究.给出了探测器的设计方案.     

SiC基中子探测器对热中子的响应

以SiC二极管和中子转换材料6LiF为基础,研制了SiC基中子探测器,并用241Am源与临界装置分别研究了SiC基中子探测器的粒子响应、热中子响应。结果表明:SiC基中子探测器能够满足241Am源粒子的计数测量,但由于SiC二极管灵敏区薄,故不能用于5.48 MeV的粒子能谱测量;SiC基中子探测器对热中子响应良好,不同功率下,脉冲幅度谱中可清晰看到由6Li(n,)3H的反应产物粒子、3H粒子形成的双峰;脉冲幅度甄别法可将射线及电子学噪声甄别掉;在直接测量与符合测量中,SiC基中子探测器的计数率均与临界装置功率成线性关系,且直接测量的线性度比符合测量的线性度好,最好可达0.999 97。研究表明:降低肖特基接触金属的厚度、增加其外延层厚度、提高其外延层品质,可将SiC二极管用于带电粒子能谱测量。     

用于神光Ⅲ燃料面密度诊断的下散射中子探测系统设计

根据辐射屏蔽后5.5m测点处的辐射场情况,分别设计了电流型探测器系统和成像型探测器系统。通过Geant4数值模拟分析可得:在面密度达到10mg/cm2、初级中子产额为1012时,电流型探测器系统满足测量的信噪比,信噪比达到40∶1;在面密度达到10mg/cm2、初级中子产额为1011时,成像型探测器系统满足测量的信噪比,信噪比好于10∶1;面密度增大时,信噪比有所改善;但是当初级中子产额达到1012时,出现中子信号重叠现象,可通过缩短曝光时间或者减小塑料闪烁体厚度来降低中子重叠率。     

掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制

中子在探测器中能产生与暗物质粒子(WIMPs)类似的核反冲信号,对于低背景的暗物质直接探测实验,精确测量和排除中子的干扰尤其重要。为测量中国锦屏地下实验室(CJPL)中子本底的通量,研制了高效的、具有很强"中子-伽马"分辨的掺钆液闪快中子探测器。介绍了掺钆液闪中子探测器的研制和性能,包括探测器形状和尺寸的设计,液体闪烁体类型、光电倍增管型号以及液闪容器材料的选择,探测器的伽马能量刻度以及中子与伽马信号的甄别。用Am-Be中子源对探测器进行探测效率刻度,得到阈值为0.2 MeV等效电子能量的中子探测效率为(6.30±0.30)%,满足中国锦屏地下实验室对中子通量测量的要求。     

A stopping layer concept to improve the spatial resolution of gas-electron-multiplier neutron detector

In recent years, gas electron multiplier (GEM) neutron detectors have been developing towards high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. We propose a novel concept of an Al stopping layer to enable the detector to achieve sub-millimeter (sub-mm) spatial resolution. The neutron conversion layer is coated with the Al stopping layer to limit the emission angle of ions into the drift region. The short track projection of ions is obtained on the signal readout board, and the detector would get good spatial resolution. The spatial resolutions of the GEM neutron detector with the Al stopping layer are simulated and optimized based on Geant4GarfieldInterface. The spatial resolution of the detector is 0.76 mm and the thermal neutron detection efficiency is about 0.01% when the Al stopping layer is 3.0 μ m thick, the drift region is 2 mm thick, the strip pitch is 600 μ m, and the digital readout is employed. Thus, the GEM neutron detector with a simple detector structure and a fast readout mode is developed to obtain a high spatial resolution and high dynamic counting range. It could be used for the direct measurement of a high-flux neutron beam, such as Bragg transmission imaging, very small-angle scattering neutron detection and neutron beam diagnostic.     

Characteristics of a stilbene scintillation crystal in a neutron spectrometer

Various organic scintillators are commonly used as the detecting material for neutrons, but these detectors are less sensitive to gamma rays. In particular, stilbene crystals and BC501A (NE213, EJ301) have good pulse-shape discrimination (PSD) between neutron and gamma-ray events, and have been selected as the media for fast-neutron detection among the organic, inorganic and plastic materials in a mixed radiation field. Although some of the scintillation characteristics of stilbene crystals have been studied, the detailed scintillation characteristics of the crystal are not completely understood. In this study, the light yield, decay time and pulse shape discrimination capability of a stilbene crystal were measured because this crystal is an optimized detector in a large flux of neutrons such as those might be found in cyclotron and charged particle accelerator facilities. The pulse-shape discrimination of neutrons and gamma rays with a stilbene crystal was measured using a ²⁵²Cf neutron source at room temperature. A neutron tagger module was used for the neutron and gamma separation using the charge comparison method in real time. The total pulse width for the charge integration and the delay from the peak-to tail start time were optimized for a better neutron and gamma separation. The relative light yield and decay time of the stilbene crystal scintillator were also measured.     

基于10B4C转换体的多层多丝正比室中子探测器模拟

随着国内高通量中子源及中子散射谱仪的快速发展,对高探测效率、高位置分辨、低伽玛灵敏度的位置灵敏型热中子探测器需求日益迫切。目前国际上中子散射谱仪大多数采用了基于3He的热中子探测器,由于当前3He价格昂贵,寻求3He替代型热中子探测器的相关研究任务紧迫。提出了一种基于10B₄C转换体的多层多丝正比室新型二维位置灵敏型热中子探测器,并利用蒙特卡罗模拟软件Geant4和Garfield++对其探测效率、位置分辨、n/γ抑制比等性能展开了详细的模拟研究。结果表明,当多丝正比室单元为40层,阈值为200 keV时,热中子（E=0.025 eV）探测效率可达到~54%,位置分辨为2.6 mm （FWHM）,n/γ抑制比为~107,可以满足大多数中子散射谱仪的需求,为此类探测器设计及实验研究提供了理论依据。As the development of high flux neutron sources and neutron scattering spectrometers in China, more and more neutron detectors with high detection efficiency, high position resolution, high time resolution and low gamma sensitivity are need ungently. 3He based neutron detector is one of the best options. Recently, because of the 3He gas shortage and its expensive price, we must find a new replacement of 3He. A two-dimensional position sensitive neutron detector based on multi-layer Multi Wires Proportional Chambers (mMWPC) with 10B₄C converter was proposed in this paper. The neutron detection efficiency, position resolution and γ compression were simulated with Geant4 and Garfield++. The results show that with 40 layers of neutron convertor, high themal neutron (E=0.025 eV) detection of~54%, best position resolution of 2.6 mm (FWHM) and high n/γ rejection ratio of~107 with the threshold of 200 keV can be achieved, which can meet the requirements of most spectrometers. This simulation results lay a good foundation for the next step of detector construction and test.     

镀膜型nMCP探测效率和位置分辨优化的蒙特卡罗模拟研究

中子敏感微通道板(Neutron sensitive microchannel plate,nMCP)因其具有高探测效率和位置分辨,配合先进的读出电子学可作为能量分辨中子成像探测器的优先选择。相比于基体掺杂型的nMCP,基于原子层沉积技术(Atomic Layer Deposition,ALD)的nMCP具有原材料消耗少、通道内壁具有高的二次电子发射系数等优势。首先,通过实验对掺杂natGd型nMCP的典型中子和伽马信号进行研究。然后,采用Geant4模拟和理论计算对镀膜10B₂O₃型nMCP的孔径、壁厚、倾角和镀膜厚度进行优化。计算结果表明,当nMCP的几何参数选择为镀膜厚度1 μm、孔径10 μm、壁厚1 μm以及倾角3°时,nMCP性能达到约56%的热中子探测效率和约22 μm的位置分辨。计算结果对CSNS能量选择中子成像探测器nMCP的几何参数设计具有重要意义。     

Consistent empirical physical formula construction for recoil energy distribution in HPGe detectors by using artificial neural networks

The gamma-ray tracking technique is a highly efficient detection method in experimental nuclear structure physics. On the basis of this method, two gamma-ray tracking arrays, AGATA in Europe and GRETA in the USA, are currently being tested. The interactions of neutrons in these detectors lead to an unwanted background in the gamma-ray spectra. Thus, the interaction points of neutrons in these detectors have to be determined in the gamma-ray tracking process in order to improve photo-peak efficiencies and peak-to-total ratios of the gamma-ray peaks. In this paper, the recoil energy distributions of germanium nuclei due to inelastic scatterings of 1–5 MeV neutrons were first obtained by simulation experiments. Secondly, as a novel approach, for these highly nonlinear detector responses of recoiling germanium nuclei, consistent empirical physical formulas (EPFs) were constructed by appropriate feedforward neural networks (LFNNs). The LFNN-EPFs are of explicit mathematical functional form. Therefore, the LFNN-EPFs can be used to derive further physical functions which could be potentially relevant for the determination of neutron interactions in gamma-ray tracking process.     

Coded-aperture imaging systems: Past,present and future development – A review

Scintillator based coded-aperture imaging has proven to be effective when applied for X- and gamma-ray detection. Adaptation of the same method for neutron imaging has resulted in a number of propitious systems, which could be potentially employed for neutron detection in security and nuclear decommissioning applications. Recently developed scintillator based coded-aperture imagers reveal that localisation of neutron sources using this technique may be feasible, since pulse shape discrimination algorithms implemented in the digital domain can reliably separate gamma-rays from fast neutron interactions occurring within an organic scintillator. Moreover, recent advancements in the development of solid organic scintillators make them a viable solution for nuclear decommissioning applications as they present less hazardous characteristics than currently dominating liquid scintillation detectors. In this paper existing applications of coded-apertures for radiation detection are critically reviewed, highlighting potential improvements for coded-aperture based neutron source localisation. Further, the suitability of coded-apertures for neutron imaging in nuclear decommissioning is also assessed using Monte-Carlo modelling.     

伴随粒子法检测隐藏爆炸物安检仪研发

为应对日益增长的恐怖活动.研制了基于伴随α粒子的中子飞行时间技术的隐藏爆炸物安全检测仪。介绍了该安检仪检测的工作原理.详细阐述了安检仪的伴随α粒子探测器的DT中子管、屏蔽系统、支撑平台、阵列γ探测器、信号获取和处理系统、数据库、传输装置及外壳的研制过程。利用研制的安检仪对常用炸药和化学战剂进行了检测.结果表明该安检仪可以满足实际应用的需求。该仪器不仅可以用于安检通道内的爆炸物检测.通过训练也可以用于毒品和危化品的检测。     

New improved methods of X-ray detection

We present CCDs (CCD = charge-coupled device) as high performance X-ray detectors. These silicon pixel detectors (whose concept was invented in 1970) are mainly used today for detection of visible light with digital cameras. Generally, X-rays are detected by inserting a phosphorescent screen and collecting the light obtained onto the CCD. However X-rays can also be detected directly with excellent background rejection capabilities, good energy resolution and intrinsic pixel-size position resolution but with mediocre efficiency in a relatively small energy range and little or no timing information. For this application a slow, low noise electronics is needed. We will discuss how these detectors work, their advantages and disadvantages as well as future possibilities and limitations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于BF3正比管的宽量程脉冲中子探测技术

介绍了一种基于BF3正比计数管的宽量程脉冲中子探测技术。该技术采用多通道、组合式的BF3管阵列中子探测器组,以适应产额变化范围较宽的脉冲中子测试场合,并同时兼顾测量下限。基于该技术研制了一套BF3阵列中子探测系统并应用于脉冲中子源的测试,实验结果表明,该系统的脉冲中子测量范围可达5个数量级(56~8106),测量下限低、输出信号清晰,证明了该技术的可行性和有效性。     

用于位置灵敏型中子探测器的6LiF/ZnS（Ag）闪烁体性能研究

研究了掺杂6LiF的ZnS(Ag)闪烁体对中子、γ射线的发光特性和EJ426闪烁体样品的热中子探测效率、出射光产额和γ灵敏度。EJ426的热中子探测效率为32.4%,出射光产额为8.01×103光子/中子,70 mV阈值时的γ灵敏度小于10-7,表明EJ426是较理想的闪烁体型位置灵敏中子探测器材料。