Study of a position-sensitive scintillator neutron detector

The investigation of a novel thermal neutron detector is developed to fulfill the requirements of the high intensity power diffractometer (HIPD) at the Chinese Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS). It consists of two layers of ⁶LiF/ZnS(Ag) scintillators, two layers of crossed WLSF arrays, several multi-anode photo multiplier tubes (MA-PMT), and the matching readout electronics. The neutron detection efficiency of the scintilltors, the light transportation ability of the WLSF, and the spatial linearity of the readout electronics are measured and discussed in this paper. It shows that the sandwich structure and the compact readout electronics could fulfill the needs of the HIPD. A prototype with a 10 cm×10 cm sensitive area has been constructed to further study the characteristics of the neutron scintillator detector.     

The Monte-Carlo simulation on a scintillator neutron detector

A simulation of the properties of the shifting scintillator neutron detector using 6LiF/ZnS(Ag) scintillation screens is performed.The simulation results show that the light attenuation length of standard BC704 scintillator is about 0.65 mm.Its thermal neutron detection efficiency,gamma sensitivity and intrinsic spatial resolution can achieve around 50.0%,10 5and 0.18 mm(along X-axis) respectively.For the detector,air coupling position resolution is better than the silicone oil coupling.Some of the simulation results are compared with experimental results.They are in agreement.This work will be helpful for constructing neutron detector for high intensity powder diffractometer at Chinese spallation neutron source.     

Characteristics of the sampling paddle modules of neutron wall from the cosmic ray test

In the construction of a large area neutron detector （neutron wall） that is used to detect neutrons at GeV energies, the performances of all the sampling paddle modules prepared for the neutron wall are investigated with a specially designed test bench. Tested by cosmic rays, an average intrinsic time resolution of 222.5 ps is achieved at the center of the modules. The light attenuation length and the effective speed of the light in the module are also investigated.     

Neutron Wall at RIBLL Ⅱ

With the construction of the new Radioactive Ion Beam Line in Lanzhou (RIBLL Ⅱ) which connecting the CSRm and the CSRe, an experimental setup.The Time-of-Flight (ToF) technique was recognized as one of the best ways for neutron detection and it, is employed by the neutrons wall. Considering the high neutron multiplicity, the detector shouldal so have the ability to resolve the multiple hits. Moreover, a high detection efficiency for the neutrons with energies ranging from 100MeV to 1 GeV is also required besides the high granularity. In this case, the sampling hadronic calorimeter type of detector has been selected. In order to estimate the performance of the detector and     

Study on spatial resolution of micromegas as a neutron detector under condition of high neutron flux and γ ray background

In this paper Micromegas has been designed to detect neutrons. The simulation of the spatial resolution of Micromegas as neutron detector is carried out by GEANT4 toolkit. The neutron track reconstruction method based on the time coincidence technology is employed in the present work. The influence of the flux of incident 14 MeV neutron and high gamma background on the spatial resolution is carefully studied. Our results show that the spatial resolution of the detector is sensitive to the neutron flux, but insensitive to the intensity of γ background if the neutron track reconstruction method proposed by our group is used. The γ insensitivity makes it possible for us to use the Micromegas detector under condition which has high γ-rays background.     

First neutron spectrometry measurement at the HL-2A Tokamak

A compact neutron spectrometer based on the liquid scintillator is presented for neutron energy spectrum measurements at the HL-2A Tokamak. The spectrometer was well characterized and a fast digital pulse shape discrimination software was developed using the charge comparison method. A digitizer data acquisition system with a maximum frequency of 1 MHz can work under an environment with a high count rate at HL-2A Tokamak. Specific radiation and magnetic shielding for the spectrometer were designed for the neutron spectrum measurement at the HL-2A Tokamak. For pulse height spectrum analysis, dedicated numerical simulation utilizing NUBEAM combined with GENESIS was performed to obtain the neutron energy spectrum. Subsequently, the transportation process from the plasma to the detector was evaluated with Monte Carlo calculations. The distorted neutron energy spectrum was folded with the response matrix of the liquid scintillation spectrometer, and good consistency was found between the simulated and measured pulse height spectra. This neutron spectrometer based on a digital acquisition system could be well adopted for the investigation of the auxiliary heating behavior and the fast-ion related phenomenon on different tokamak devices.     

应用于热中子的nTHGEM探测器性能研究

随着脉冲强流中子源的发展,对高性能中子探测器提出了更大的挑战,3He气体资源严重短缺和高计数率中子探测器的迫切需求,已开始制约着中子源应用技术的发展。中国科学院高能物理研究所针对中子的特殊性,专门研发了一种陶瓷基材的nTHGEM（neutron Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier）探测器用于中子探测。基于nTHGEM的中子探测器具有高计数率、高位置与时间分辨能力、增益大、制作工艺简单,且便于大面积制作的特点,是目前国际上发展替代3He探测技术的重要方向之一。为了详细研究nTHGEM探测器的本身性能,本工作使用55Fe放射源研究了nTHGEM探测器的增益、计数率稳定性、能量分辨率等关键参数与nTHGEM膜间电压、收集场强、漂移场强之间的关系,优化了nTHGEM探测器在不同工作气体中的工作参数,为后续进一步优化nTHGEM探测器设计和工艺奠定了基础。实验结果表明,单层nTHGEM探测器在Ar（90%）+CO₂（10%）混合气体中增益能达到103,探测器计数率稳定性良好。另外,还在中国原子能科学研究院的CARR反应堆（China Advanced Research Reactor）上进行了中子束流实验,通过狭缝测量到探测器位置分辨率为（3.01±0.03）mm（FWHM）,已经接近高气压3He MWPC中子探测器水平。With the development of pulsed intense neutron source, the high-performance neutron detector poses more challenges. The severe shortage of 3He gas resources and the urgent need of neutron detector with high counting rate have begun to restrict the neutron source application technology development. In response to the particularity of neutrons, the Institute of High Energy Physics of CAS developed a nTHGEM(neutron Thick Gaseous Electron Multiplier)of ceramic substrate for neutron detection. The neutron detector based on nTHGEM is one of the most important directions for the development of alternative 3He detection technology in the world at present because of its high counting rate, high position and time resolution, large gain, simple fabrication process and large area production. In order to study the properties of nTHGEM detector in detail, this paper studied the relationship between nTHGEM detector's gain, counting rate stability, energy resolution and other key parameters and nTHGEM film voltage, collection field strength and drift field strength using 55Fe radioactive source, Optimized the working parameters of nTHGEM detector in different working gases, which laid the foundation for further optimization of nTHGEM detector design and process. The experimental results show that the single-layer nTHGEM detector has a gain of 103 in a Ar(90%)+CO₂(10%) mixed gas with good counting rate stability. In addition, a neutron beam experiment was performed on the China Advanced Research Reactor at the China Institute of Atomic Energy, and the position resolution of the detector was (3.01±0.03) mm (FWHM) measured by slits. Its performance is close to the high pressure 3He MWPC neutron detector level.     

NE213 闪烁体探测器中子探测效率模拟

应用FLUKA 软件包对NE213 液体闪烁体中子探测器的探测效率进行了蒙特卡罗模拟,通过Birks 公式将中子产生的次级粒子的能量沉积转化为相应的光输出。根据不同探测阈值对模拟得到的光输出进行积分处理,计算出给定能量下探测器的中子探测效率。将模拟得到的闪烁体光输出、中心探测效率和平均探测效率随中子入射到探测器前表面位置的变化与实验数据进行比较,结果显示,FLUKA 模拟结果与实验值符合得很好,这为中子探测器的设计提供了可靠保证。A NE213 liquid scintillation neutron detector was simulated by using the FLUKA code. The light output of the detector was obtained by transforming the secondary particles energy deposition using Birks formula. According to the measurement threshold, detection efficiencies can be calculated by integrating the light output. The light output, central efficiency and the average efficiency as a function of the front surface radius of the detector, were simulated and the results agreed well with experimental results.     

Effects due to a Pu-C source on a HPGe detector and the corresponding neutron shielding

A gamma spectrum of a Pu-C source is measured using a p-type HPGe detector, whose three peaks (full energy, single-escape and double-escape peak) can be used as a calibration source for the beam energy measurement system of BEPCII. The effect of fast neutron damage on the energy resolution of the HPGe detector is studied, which indicates that the energy resolution begins to deteriorate when the detector is subject to 2×10⁷ n/cm² fastneutrons. The neutron damage mechanism and detector repair methods are reviewed. The Monte Carlo simulation technique is utilized to study the shielding of the HPGe detector from the fast neutron radiation damage, which is of great significance for the future commissioning of the beam energy measurement system.     

超重反冲余核时间探测器性能测试

介绍了一种铝制内椭球面反射镜闪烁薄膜探测器,对其探测效率、光收集效率和时间性能的测试. 结果分析表明采用1 μm厚的BC498闪烁薄膜探测器测量实验中超重反冲余核, 探测效率接近100％, 时间分辨好于200 ps, 其性能满足超重反冲余核时间测量的要求. A thin plastic scintillator film detector with an inner ellipsoidal reflection mirror made of aluminum is introduced. Detection efficiency and light collection efficiency of the detector have been investigated. The time resolution of the detector has been also studied. The testing results show that the detection efficiency of BC498 with the thickness of 1 micron to be used in the coming superheavy synthesis experiments is approximately 100%, and the time resolution is better than 200 ps (σ). The performances of the thin plastic scintillator film detector meet the requirements for the time measurement of the superheavy element synthesis.     

Characteristics of the sampling paddle modules of neutron wall from the cosmic ray test

In the construction of a large area neutron detector(neutron wall)that is used to detect neutrons at GeV energies,the performances of all the sampling paddle modules prepared for the neutron wall areinvestigated with a specially designed test bench.Tested by cosmic rays,an average intrinsic time resolution of 222.5 ps is achieved at the center of the modules.The light attenuation length and the effective speed of the light in the module are also investigated.     

Neutron field mapping and dosimetry by CR-39 for radiography and other applications

A neutron telescope based on the n–p elastic scattering on H is suggested to investigate the inhomogeneity of neutron fields used for different applications like neutron radiography, biological investigations or dosimetry where the number of neutrons with high energy (above 8 MeV) is negligible. The telescope consists of a thin polyethylene foil and a track etch detector divided by an air gap and placed inside a glass tube which can be evacuated by a simple vacuum pump. The angular and energy resolution of the telescope mostly depend on the diameter of the tube, the length and pressure of the air gap, on the thickness and H content of the radiator and on the type of the track detector. The response of the telescope is characterized by several parameters: the incident angle distribution of protons, the length and the minor diameter distributions of the etched tracks. The response was calculated for several assemblies by a Monte Carlo code and based on the results, three different experimental telescopes were constructed and tested. The most suitable one was selected for routine measurements.     

溴化镧闪烁体探测器性能及应用研究

LaBr3(Ce)探测器是一种新型闪烁体探测器,具有高光产额,高探测效率,高时间和空间分辨率,高能量分辨率,温度特性良好,抗辐射性能良好,操作简便等优点.从2001年以来,该探测器得到了迅速的研究和应用.LaBr3(Ce)探测器在核共振荧光检测、瞬发γ中子活化分析、爆炸物检测、核医学成像、环境辐射监测、空间辐射探测等方面的应用研究中取得了非常良好的效果.该探测器表现出优于以往用于这些领域的探测器的性能(例如NaI(Tl)探测器、BGO探测器、HPGe探测器等).介绍了LaBr3(Ce)探测器的性能及其应用研究进展,对代表性文献进行了简析和综述,阐明了其良好的应用前景.     

Study of a nTHGEM-based thermal neutron detector

With new generation neutron sources, traditional neutron detectors cannot satisfy the demands of the applications, especially under high flux. Furthermore, facing the global crisis in ~3He gas supply, research on new types of neutron detector as an alternative to ~3He is a research hotspot in the field of particle detection. GEM(Gaseous Electron Multiplier) neutron detectors have high counting rate, good spatial and time resolution, and could be one future direction of the development of neutron detectors. In this paper, the physical process of neutron detection is simulated with Geant 4 code, studying the relations between thermal conversion efficiency, boron thickness and number of boron layers. Due to the special characteristics of neutron detection, we have developed a novel type of special ceramic n THGEM(neutron THick GEM) for neutron detection. The performance of the n THGEM working in different Ar/CO_2 mixtures is presented, including measurements of the gain and the count rate plateau using a copper target X-ray source. A detector with a single n THGEM has been tested for 2-D imaging using a ~(252)Cf neutron source. The key parameters of the performance of the n THGEM detector have been obtained, providing necessary experimental data as a reference for further research on this detector.     

New approach to detection of solar flare neutrons

The possibilities of improving the characteristics of neutron telescopes are discussed. A new type of solar neutron detectors is proposed, in which the signal-to-noise ratio is increased by a factor of 6–7. It is proposed to place the neutron detector deep under water (absorber), remaining open an angle of ≈0.1 sr in the direction of the Sun. It is also shown that, due to the high directed sensitivity and extremely low background level, it becomes possible to determine more exactly the neutron energy. It is proposed to develop a world-wide network of such detectors by the next (24th) solar cycle.     

用于中国散裂中子源多功能反射谱仪的高气压多丝正比室探测器的研制

中国散裂中子源需要建设一台多功能反射谱仪中子探测器,满足在10年运行期间内,50%(@2A)以上的探测效率、好于2 mm的二维位置分辨、200 mm×200 mm的灵敏面积、3倍的n/γ分辨能力及良好的二维成像性能.基于此要求,探测器因此采用基于高气压~3He气体的多丝正比室,并以满足反射谱仪的探测效率、位置分辨、长期稳定工作和n/y分辨能力为目标进行探测器的设计.本文经过模拟和实验计算得出:以9 mm厚的铝合金入射窗、铝丝密封的高气压腔体和6 bar~3He+2.5 bar C_3H_8的工作气体的设计,可满足探测器对2 A中子10年运行期间内54%以上的探测效率要求;探测器对中子的位置分辨可达到1.4 mm左右;设计的气体净化系统,拥有2 L/min的气流速度可有效去除探测器内的负电性杂质气体,气体循环净化后可提高探测器约27%的气体增益,保证探测器长期稳定的运行;通过对~(252)Cf中子源的能谱测量和成像测量,得出探测器的n/γ分辨能力在5倍以上和均匀的成像结果.研制的探测器满足反射谱仪需求,并已在中国散裂中子源反射谱仪靶站就位联调.     

基于Micromegas探测技术的中子CT可行性研究(英文)

在培育新品种过程中能够实时掌握了解土壤中植物根系的形态以及其生长情况将为植物学家提供很多不可或缺的信息。对基于 micromegas 探测技术的中子 CT 在这一新应用的试验环境进行了仿真模拟, 通过三维图像重建后,得到了令人满意的预期结果。首先通过 Geant4 和 Garfield 模拟计算利用聚乙烯薄膜作为中子转换层的 micromegas 中子探测器, 得到了非常理想的位置分辨, 说明基于micromegas 探测技术建立中子 CT 照相系统的可行性。 然后利用MCNP仿真模拟14 MeV 中子CT 的实验环境, 最后由Matlab程序进行图像重建。In this paper, the possibility using micromegas(Micro Mesh Gaseous Structure) as neutron detector in 14 MeV neutron computed tomography(CT) has been simulated. The results show that the micromegas neutron detector has high spatial resolution and is a good candidate for neutron radiography. The three dimensional images of plant roots in soil are successfully and clearly obtained by the 14 MeV neutron CT with micromegas as a neutron detector. In the present simulation, MCNP is employed for 14 MeV neutron transport in the sample and Matlab for the 3 D photograph reconstruction.     

MEASUREMENT OF PULSED NEUTRON FLUX AND DOSE EQUIVALENT RATE FOR 30MeV ELECTRON LINAC

In this paper Indium active detector is suggested to measure the pulsed neutrons around Electron Lanic. It can be hopefully expected to have correcrt dose response of detector in the short pulsed neutron field, high resolution ability of the neutrons to γ-rays and of against electromagnetic disturbance.
This detector was used to measure the distribution of neutron flux and dose equivalent rate both inside and outside of the 300MeV Electron Linac shield. The results are compared with TLD measurement. At the end of this paper the Indium activation products by high energy photon reaction (γ, n) are estimated.     

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.