Measurement of cosmic ray flux in the China JinPing underground laboratory

The China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL) is the deepest underground laboratory running in the world at present. In such a deep underground laboratory, the cosmic ray flux is a very important and necessary parameter for rare-event experiments. A plastic scintillator telescope system has been set up to measure the cosmic ray flux. The performance of the telescope system has been studied using the cosmic rays on the ground laboratory near the CJPL. Based on the underground experimental data taken from November 2010 to December 2011 in the CJPL, which has an effective live time of 171 days, the cosmic ray muon flux in the CJPL is measured to be (2.0±0.4)×10-10/(cm2 ·s). The ultra-low cosmic ray background guarantees an ideal environment for dark matter experiments at the CJPL.     

Measurement of the fluorescence quantum yield of bis-MSB

The fluorescence quantum yield of bis-MSB,a widely used liquid scintillator wavelength shifter,was measured to study the photon absorption and re-emission processes in a hquid scintillator.The re-emission process affects the photoelectron yield and distribution,especially in a large liquid scintillator detector,thus must be understood to optimize the liquid scintillator for good energy resolution and to precisely simulate the detector with Monte Carlo.In this study,solutions of different bis-MSB concentration were prepared for absorption and fluorescence emission measurements to cover a broad range of wavelengths.Harmane was used as a standard reference to obtain the absolution fluorescence quantum yield.For the first time we measured the fluorescence quantum yield of bis-MSB up to 430 nm as inputs required by Monte Carlo simulation,which is 0.926±0.053 at λ_(ex)=350 nm.     

A Monte Carlo study for the shielding of γ backgrounds induced by radionuclides for CDEX

The CDEX (China Dark matter EXperiment) Collaboration will carry out a direct search for WIMPs (Weakly Interacting Massive Particles) using an Ultra-Low Energy Threshold High Purity Germanium (ULE-HPGe) detector at the CJPL (China JinPing deep underground Laboratory). A complex shielding system was designed to reduce backgrounds and a detailed GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation was performed to study the achievable reduction of γ rays induced by radionuclides and neutron backgrounds by D(γ,n)p reaction. Furthermore, the upper level of allowed radiopurity of shielding materials was estimated under the constraint of the expected goal. Compared with the radiopurity reported by other low-background rare-event experiments, it indicates that the shielding used in the CDEX can be made out of materials with obtainable radiopurity.     

A comparison of n-γ discrimination by the rise-time and zero-crossing methods

The n-γ discrimination performance of two experimental arrangements based on the rise-time method and the zero-crossing method was compared for a 50.8 mm-diametered and 50.8 mm-high BC501A liquid scintillator coupled to a 50.8 mm-diametered 9807B photomultiplier in this work. The low energy limitation of the detected neutron with different detector high voltages and the figure of merit of the n-γ discrimination in four neutron energy regions (1–2 MeV, 0.75–1 MeV, 0.5–0.75 MeV and below 0.5 MeV) were studied by using the Am-Be neutron source. Under a time statistical model of the photoelectron emission process in scintillation counters, the intrinsic capability of the n-γ discrimination performance under the optimal condition was evaluated. The experimental results of the zero-crossing method demonstrate a better n-γ. discrimination performance than those of the rise-time method, which is consistent with the calculated results.     

Some new progress on the light absorption properties of linear alkyl benzene solvent

Linear alkyl benzene(LAB) will be used as the solvent in a liquid scintillator mixture for the JUNO antineutrino experiment. Its light absorption properties should therefore be understood prior to its effective use in the experiment. Attenuation length measurements at a light wavelength of 430 nm have been performed on samples of LAB prepared for the JUNO experiment. Inorganic impurities in LAB have also been studied for their possibilities of light absorption in our wavelength of interest. In view of a tentative plan by the JUNO collaboration to utilize neutron capture with hydrogen in the detector, we also present in this work a preliminary study on the carbon–hydrogen ratio and the attenuation length of the samples.     

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.     

Simulation of large-scale fast neutron liquid scintillation detector

Neutron background measurement is always very important for dark matter detection due to almost the same effect for the recoiled nucleus scattered off by the incident neutron and dark matter particle. For deep under-ground experiments, the flux of neutron background is so low that large-scale detection is usually necessary. In this paper, by using Geant4, the relationship between detection efficiency and volume is investigated, meanwhile, two geometrical schemes for this detection including a single large-sized detector and arrayed multi-detector are compared under the condition of the same volume. The geometrical parameters of detectors are filtrated and detection efficiencies obtained under the similar background condition of China Jingping Underground Laboratory (CJPL). The results show that for a large-scale Gd-doped liquid scintillation detector, the detection efficiency increases with the size of detector at the beginning and then trends toward a constant. Under the condition of the same length and cross section, the arrayed multi-detector has almost similar detection performance as the single large-sized detector, while too much detector number could cause degeneration of detection performance. Considering engineering factors, such as testing, assembling and production, the 4 × 4 arrayed detector scheme is flexible and more suitable. Furthermore, the conditions for using fast and slow signal coincidence detection and the detectable lower limit of neutron energy are evaluated by simulating the light process.     

A capture-gated fast neutron detection method

To address the problem of the shortage of neutron detectors used in radiation portal monitors(RPMs),caused by the ~3He supply crisis, research on a cadmium-based capture-gated fast neutron detector is presented in this paper. The detector is composed of many 1 cm × 1 cm × 20 cm plastic scintillator cuboids covered by 0.1 mm thick film of cadmium. The detector uses cadmium to absorb thermal neutrons and produce capture γ-rays to indicate the detection of neutrons, and uses plastic scintillator to moderate neutrons and register γ-rays. This design removes the volume competing relationship in traditional ~3He counter-based fast neutron detectors, which hinders enhancement of the neutron detection efficiency. Detection efficiency of 21.66% ± 1.22% has been achieved with a 40.4 cm × 40.4cm × 20 cm overall detector volume. This detector can measure both neutrons and γ-rays simultaneously. A small detector(20.2 cm × 20.2 cm × 20 cm) demonstrated a 3.3 % false alarm rate for a ~(252)Cf source with a neutron yield of 1841 n/s from 50 cm away within 15 s measurement time. It also demonstrated a very low(0.06%) false alarm rate for a 3.21 × 10~5 Bq ~(137)Cs source. This detector offers a potential single-detector replacement for both neutron and the γ-ray detectors in RPM systems.     

CDEX-1 1 kg point-contact germanium detector for low mass dark matter searches

The CDEX collaboration has been established for direct detection of light dark matter particles, using ultra-low energy threshold point-contact p-type germanium detectors, in China JinPing underground Laboratory (CJPL). The first 1 kg point-contact germanium detector with a sub-keV energy threshold has been tested in a passive shielding system located in CJPL. The outputs from both the point-contact P⁺ electrode and the outside N⁺ electrode make it possible to scan the lower energy range of less than 1 keV and at the same time to detect the higher energy range up to 3 MeV. The outputs from both P⁺ and N⁺ electrode may also provide a more powerful method for signal discrimination for dark matter experiment. Some key parameters, including energy resolution, dead time, decay times of internal X-rays, and system stability, have been tested and measured. The results show that the 1 kg point-contact germanium detector, together with its shielding system and electronics, can run smoothly with good performances. This detector system will be deployed for dark matter search experiments.     

Measurement of the neutron spectrum of a Pu-C source with a liquid scintillator

The neutron response function for a BC501A liquid scintillator （LS） has been measured using a series of monoenergetic neutrons produced by the p-T reaction. The proton energies were chosen such as to produce neutrons in the energy range of 1 to 20 MeV. The principles of the technique of unfolding a neutron energy spectrum by using the measured neutron response function and the measured Pulse Height （PH） spectrum is briefly described. The PH spectrum of neutrons from the Pu-C source, which will be used for the calibration of the reactor antineutrino detectors for the Daya Bay neutrino experiment, was measured and analyzed to get the neutron energy spectrum. Simultaneously the neutron energy spectrum of an Am-Be source was measured and compared with other measurements as a check of the result for the Pu-C source. Finally, an error analysis and a discussion of the results are given.     

液体闪烁体探测器测量皮秒激光脉冲中子源能谱

在星光Ⅲ实验装置上开展皮秒激光脉冲中子源实验,使用液体闪烁体探测器测得较好的中子信号,利用飞行时间法获得中子的能量/时间分布,通过示波器电压时间积分与阻抗之比得到不同能量段的电荷值。建立液体闪烁体探测器Geant4计算模型,通过实际打靶情况与标定情况下液体闪烁体探测器出光口收集到的可见光光子数之比,结合标定的灵敏度数据,获得液体闪烁体探测器对不同能量中子的灵敏度。计算得到源发射的中子能谱,能量在1 MeV以上的液体闪烁体探测器方向测得的中子产额为1.04108 sr-1。     

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。     

近距离n, γ混合脉冲辐射场中γ辐射探测技术

n, γ混合脉冲辐射场中, 在近距离、辐射强度低且中子辐射峰值比被测γ辐射峰值强度高的情况下, 传统γ辐射探测技术实施起来面临困难. 对PbWO4和CeF3等近年国内新研制的无机闪烁体进行了系列研究, 使用CeF3分别配光电倍增管和光电管,组合出了对γ辐射灵敏度高, 对中子相对不灵敏, 同时脉冲响应也快的光电探测系统, 应用以此为基础的探测技术在近距离n, γ混合脉冲辐射场中, 可将脉冲γ辐射探测信噪比提高一个量级以上. It is difficult to detect low intensity γ radiation by using traditional γ radiation detection technique in a close distance n, γ commix pulse radiation field with very high intensity neutron radiation. PbWO4 and CeF3 which are newly developed inorganic scintillator in our country have been studied. Photoelectricity detector systemes which have high γ sensitivity and relative insensitive to neutron and fast time response were assembled by using CeF3 and photomultiplier tube. The ratio of signal to noise for γ ray detection can be up to more than 10 times in close distance n, γ commix pulse radiation field by using this detector system.     

超快中子探测器闪烁体性能计算

超快中子探测器是ICF聚变反应速率测量系统的核心部件。利用蒙特卡罗粒子输运工具包Geant4模拟了一种超快中子探测器——BC-422型闪烁探测器的中子探测过程,计算出了几种厚度的BC-422型闪烁体的探测效率、输出光信号强度和时间分辨力;对比了闪烁体的2种不同反射表面对输出光信号强度和时间分辨力的影响。计算的结果显示:设计适当的BC-422型闪烁探测器能够测量的最低中子产额在108量级,对DT中子的信号时间分辨力好于20 ps,对DD中子的信号时间分辨力达到30 ps,能够用于大型激光装置及其原型的聚变反应速率测量。     

LS301快中子探测器的效率刻度

主要介绍了利用252Cf标准裂变中子能谱刻度快脉冲LS301型液闪中子探测器的探测效率的实验方法和结果, 简要介绍了实验数据的处理过程, 得到了阈值分别为0.5, 0.7, 1.0和1.6 MeV, 以及中子能量在10 MeV以下的探测器效率, 并对测量结果进行了误差分析。同时为了检验实验结果的准确性, 将实验结果与理论计算结果进行比较, 两者在不确定度范围内符合得很好。Neutron detection efficiency of LS301 fast neutron detector was calibrated by measuring the neutron energy spectrum of 252Cf source, which has a standard fission neutron spectrum. A low mass, fast ionization chamber is used as the fission fragments detector in the time of flight(TOF) spectrometer and afforded the start signal of neutron flight. The stop signal was offered by the anode of LS301. A measured TOF spectrum was turned to the neutron energy spectrum which will be compared with the standard one. Consequently, the fast neutron detection efficiency of LS301 was obtained. Calibration procedures of experimental and data processing was given. Relative detection efficiencies were obtained separately for threshold settings of 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 and 1.6 MeV for neutron energies under 10 MeV. Experimental results accorded with theoretical efficiency curves which were calculated with the Monte Carlo code NEFF50.     

MEASUREMENT OF THE FAST NEUTRON CAPTURE CROSS SECTIONS OF NATURAL NUCLEI Ta AND In

The neutron capture cross sections of Ta and In were measured in the energy range from 0.34 to 1.68MeV.A large liquid scintillator detector was used for detecting the prompt capture γ radiation.Two long-counters were used for monitoring the neutron flux.In order to reduce background the fast coincidence between the two half-spheres of the detector and the time-of-flight technique were used.The capture cross sections of Ta and In were determined relative to the standard cross section of Au.Present results were compared with others and discussed.     

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.     

ICF中子发射时间诊断

 对ICF中子发射时间的诊断技术进行了研究,研制了基于快闪烁体和微通道板式光电倍增管的中子发射时间探测器。在某大型激光原型装置上进行了中子发射时间的实验测量,成功获得多发实验的中子发射时间与打靶激光脉冲的时间及中子发射时间之间的关系。实验结果表明：中子发射时间探测器对DT中子和DD中子都能够响应,中子产额测量下限达到10⁷,时间测量不确定度小于20 ps;CH烧蚀层越厚,中子发射时间越长。