A telescope detection system for direct and high resolution spectrometry of intense neutron fields

A high energy- and spatial-resolution telescope detector was designed and constructed for neutron spectrometry of intense neutron fields. The detector is constituted by a plastic scintillator coupled to a monolithic silicon telescope (MST), in turn consisting of a ΔE and an E stage. The scintillator behaves as an “active” recoil-proton converter, since it measures the deposited energy of the recoil-protons generated across. The MST measures the residual energy of recoil-protons downstream of the converter and also discriminates recoil-protons from photons associated to the neutron field. The lay-out of the scintillator/MST system was optimized through an analytical model for selecting the angular range of the scattered protons. The use of unfolding techniques for reconstructing the neutron energy distribution was thus avoided with reasonable uncertainty (about 1.6% in neutron energy) and efficiency (of the order of 10⁻⁶ counts per unit neutron fluence). A semi-empirical procedure was also developed for correcting the non-linearity in light emission from the organic scintillator. The spectrometer was characterized with quasi-monoenergetic and continuous fields of neutrons generated at the CN Van De Graaff accelerator of the INFN-Legnaro National Laboratory, Italy, showing satisfactory agreement with literature data.     

Response of a Si-diode-based device to fast neutrons

Semiconductor devices based on a Si-detector are frequently used for charged particle's detection; one application being in the investigation of cosmic radiation fields. From the spectra of energy deposition events in such devices, the total energy deposited by the radiation in silicon can be derived. This contribution presents the results of studies concerning the response of this type of detector to fast neutrons. First, the spectrum of energy deposition was established in fast neutron radiation fields with average energies from 0.5 to 50 MeV. It was found that these spectra vary significantly with the neutron energy. The comparison with the spectra registered in photon beams permitted an estimation of the part of energy deposited that could be attributed to neutrons. It was found that this part increases rapidly with neutron energy. The possibilities to use this type of detector for neutron detection and dosimetry for radiation protection are analysed and discussed.     

Characterization of monoenergetic neutron reference fields with a high resolution diamond detector

A novel radiation detector based on an artificial single crystal diamond was used to characterize in detail the energy distribution of neutron reference fields at the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) and their contamination with charged particles. The monoenergetic reference fields at PTB in the neutron energy range from 1.5 MeV up to 19 MeV are generated by proton and deuteron beams impinging on solid and gas targets of tritium and deuterium. The energy of the incoming particles and the variation of the angle under which the measurement is performed produce monoenergetic reference fields with different mean energies and line shapes. Well established simulation codes allow these parameters to be calculated in detail, provided the properties of the targets are known.In this paper we present high resolution neutron spectrometry measurements of different monoenergetic reference fields. The results are compared with calculated spectra taking into account the actual target parameters. The influence of deviations from the ideal case, e.g. a non homogeneous tritium distribution in a solid Ti/T-target, was investigated. Line structures in the order of 80 keV for a neutron energy of 9 MeV were resolved. The shift of the mean energy and the increasing of the width of the neutron peak with increasing pressure in the gas target in the order of 30 keV were measured.Another result is the determination of the contamination of the neutron field at 14 MeV with high energy charged particles (protons) from side reactions inside the T-target. This effect is due to the thin backing of the targets in use at PTB. It depends on the age of the target and it has to be taken into consideration for irradiations at small distances for some detectors, especially when very old targets are used.The experiments have shown that this detector is an easy to operate compact neutron spectrometer with extremely good energy resolution and that detailed structures in the line shapes of monoenergetic neutron fields can be resolved without using time-of-flight techniques.     

Measurement of neutron-induced proton-production energy spectra with NE213 scintillator

Many benchmark data are required for the improvement of theoretical model implemented in a Monte Carlo code for particle transport. To acquire the benchmark data, we measured energy spectra of protons emitted from graphite, aluminum, and iron targets bombarded with continuous-energy neutrons, which enable simultaneous measurements at the incident energies from 100 to 600 MeV at a time. The neutron flux incident on the target was measured with a ²³⁸U fission ionization chamber. Protons emitted from the target were measured with three ΔE–E detectors consisting of a thin NE102A scintillator and a thick NE213 liquid scintillator. In the analysis, the pulse shape discrimination of the NE213 scintillator enable us to distinguish events for a charged particle stopping in the scintillator from events for a charged particle penetrating the scintillator. Experimental results were compared with calculations by the PHITS code coupled with the JENDL-HE file, the Bertini model implemented in the PHITS code, and the PEANUT model in the FLUKA code.     

Neutron,photon and proton energy spectra at high altitude measured using a phoswich-type neutron detector

Neutron energy spectrum from 7 to 180 MeV, photon energy spectrum from 4 to 50 MeV and proton energy spectrum from 94 to 145 MeV were measured simultaneously using a phoswich-type neutron detector with particle discrimination methods at atmospheric depth of 249 g/cm², a vertical cut-off rigidity of 10.2 GV and at a heliocentric potential of 312 MV. We compared our results with other measured and calculated particle energy spectra. Our measured results give a large, sharp neutron peak around 70 MeV, although Bonner balls show a broad peak around 100 MeV due to low energy resolution. The measured photon and proton spectra are between the calculated energy spectra. This onboard study provides the first experimental neutron energy spectrum over 10 MeV with a high-energy resolution.     

Multiparameter study of 1H, 3H and 4He in fast neutron induced fission of 235U

The emission probabilities per fission of α-particles, tritons and protons have been measured in fast neutron induced fission of ²³⁵U. The measurements were carried out at neutron energies of 120, 180, 230 and 550 keV. AΔE-E semiconductor detector telescope was used to identify different light charged particles and the fission fragments were detected with an ionization chamber. The three-parameter data corresponding to the pulse heights from the ΔE-E detectors and the ion-chamber were recorded event by event on magnetic tape and were analyzed off-line by computer. No significant variation in the most probable energy ($\text{E}$) and the standard deviation (σ_E) of the energy spectra of different light charged particles with incident neutron energy was observed, although $\text{E}{}_{\mathrm{\alpha }}$ was seen to have a slightly higher value beyond E_n = 230 keV. The yield of α-particles in fission induced by neutrons of E_n ～ 200 keV was found to be higher by about 20 % than that in thermal neutron induced fission. The yields of tritons and protons were found to increase significantly with neutron energy.     

Resonance neutron capture in silicon

Gamma ray spectra from neutron capture by natural silicon have been measured for resonances at 31.7, 38.8, 55.9 and 67.7 keV. Absolute partial radiative widths have been obtained with the 35 keV s-wave resonance in aluminium as a reference standard. Strong single particle effects were observed in the final state correlation. These cannot be accounted for by the valence model of neutron capture. A different single particle mechanism must therefore occur at these energies.     

The effect of ion energy on the formation of the silicon carbide interface of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films grown on silicon by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition

The interface of hydrogenated amorphous carbon films grown on single crystal silicon by plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition from methane was studied by angle-resolved X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The effect of varying RF power for films grown on a RF-powered electrode was investigated, as well as the effect of varying pulse height for films grown under high voltage pulsed biasing on a non-RF-powered electrode. The spectra of the films deposited at the powered electrode revealed the presence of an approximately stoichiometric silicon carbide layer at the interface. In contrast, the interfacial carbide for films formed at the pulsed biased electrode was found to be nonstoichiometric and silicon rich, which could be ascribed to the relatively much smaller high-energy ion flux to the substrate. The effective thickness of the interfacial layer, as determined from the angle-resolved spectra, however, correlated well with the kinetic energy of plasma ions impinging on the silicon substrate, regardless of the average stoichiometry. The thickness varied from ˜ 4 to 12 Å for kinetic energies ranging from ˜ 150 to 1100 eV. The results indicate that the thickness of the interfacial carbide is determined by the average penetration depth of plasma ions into the silicon substrate, as controlled by their kinetic energy.     

Low energy alkali ion scattering investigation of Au nanoclusters grown on silicon oxide surfaces

The atomic and electronic structures of Au nanostructures grown by deposition onto various silicon oxide surfaces were probed with low energy alkali ion scattering. Charge state-resolved time-of-flight spectra of scattered 2 keV ³⁹K⁺ ions were collected from Au deposited onto an untreated Si wafer with a native oxide, a thermally grown oxide surface, and atomically-clean Si(111). It is shown that nanoclusters form on both oxides, but not on the clean Si. A quantitative analysis of the ion scattering spectra indicates that the nanoclusters are initially flat, two-dimensional structures that start to develop a second layer at about 0.5 Å of deposited Au and then form three-dimensional islands. The neutral fraction of scattered 2 keV ³⁹K⁺ ions decreases with deposition indicating changes in the quantum state occupancy with cluster size. The shapes of the clusters differ on the native and thermal oxides, leading to shape-dependent neutralization.     

Study of a silicon telescope for solid state microdosimetry: Preliminary measurements at the therapeutic proton beam line of CATANA

A monolithic silicon device consisting of a matrix of micrometric cylindrical diodes (about 2 μm in thickness and 9 μm in diameter) coupled to a residual energy measurement stage E (about 500 μm in thickness) was proposed and studied for assessing the quality of a therapeutic proton beam. The device was placed at different depths inside a polymethyl-methacrylate phantom and irradiated with a modulated 62 MeV proton beam at the Centro di AdroTerapia e Applicazioni Nucleari Avanzate (CATANA) of the Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS, Catania, Italy) of the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN).At each phantom depth, the energy imparted in the two detector stages was measured event-by-event in coincidence mode. The distributions of the energy imparted to the cylindrical diodes were corrected for tissue-equivalence by applying an optimized procedure. In order to perform a comparison with literature data measured with a cylindrical TEPC, the distributions derived with the silicon detector were corrected for shape-equivalence. The agreement with the microdosimetric spectra measured with the TEPC was satisfactory above the detection limit imposed by the electronic noise of the silicon-based system.     

Optimization of the energy response of radiographic films by Monte Carlo method

In the present work a simple model for calculation of the energy response of radiographic films was introduced. According to the model the energy response of a radiographic film is directly proportional to the optical density on the film and thus to the number of developed grains in the emulsion. The model was simulated by Monte Carlo method using MCNP code and the relative energy response of Kodak type 2 film under a few filters of A.E.R.E./R.P.S. film badge was calculated. The simulated responses were in agreement with the experimental data in the region of 30 keV–1.5 MeV. In the next stage a multi-element filter was simulated to optimize the energy response in the above energies. The energy response varied by 25% between 40 keV and 1.5 MeV. So the dose received by the film is equivalent to the desired true dose and there would be no need to the correction factors.     

Simulation and experimental study of an indigenously designed and constructed THGEM-based microdosimeter for dose-equivalent measurement

Most of the GEM/THGEM-based microdosimetric detectors presented in the literature simulate 2 μm of tissue which results in a flat neutron dose-equivalent response in the MeV region. The objective of this work was to introduce a neutron microdosimeter with a more extended flat response. In this regard, a THGEM-based microdosimeter with plexiglas walls, simulating 1 μm of tissue was designed and constructed. Its performance was investigated by both simulation and experimentation to determine the microdosimetric quantity of “lineal energy”.In the simulation study, lineal energy distribution, mean quality factor and dose-equivalent response of the microdosimeter for eleven neutron energies from 10 keV to 14 MeV, along with the energy spectrum of ²⁴¹Am-Be neutrons, were calculated by the Geant4 simulation toolkit. Obtained lineal energy distributions were compatible with the distributions determined by a Rossi counter. Also, the mean quality factors agreed well with the values reported by the ICRU report 40 which confirmed tissue equivalent behavior of the microdosimeter. They were different from the effective quality factor values within 15% between 20 keV and 14 MeV. This led to a flat dose-equivalent response with 20% difference from a median value of 0.82 in the above energy range which was an improvement compared with other THGEM-based detectors, simulating 2 μm of tissue. In spite of the satisfactory determination of the dose-equivalent, the microdosimeter had low detection sensitivity.In the experimental study, the measured lineal energy distribution of ²⁴¹Am-Be neutrons was in agreement with the simulated distribution. Further, the measured mean quality factor and dose-equivalent differed by 1.5% and 3.5%, respectively, from the calculated values. Finally, it could be concluded that the investigated microdosimeter reliably determined the desired dose-equivalent value of each neutron field with every energy spectrum lying between 20 keV and 14 MeV.     

Influence of Bonner sphere response functions above 20 MeV on unfolded neutron spectra and doses

Monte Carlo (MC) codes for neutron transport calculations such as MCNP, MCNPX, FLUKA, PHITS, and GEANT4, crucially rely on cross sections that describe the interaction of neutrons with nuclei. For neutron energies below 20 MeV, evaluated cross sections are available that are validated against experimental data. In contrast, for high energies (above 20 MeV) experimental data are scarce and, for this reason, every neutron transport code is based on theoretical nuclear models to describe interactions of neutrons with nuclei in matter. Here we report on the calculation of a complete set of response functions for a Bonner spheres spectrometer (BSS), by means of GEANT4 using the Bertini and Binary Intranuclear Cascade (INC) models for energies above 20 MeV. The recent results were compared with those calculated by MCNP/LAHET and MCNP/HADRON MC codes. It turns out that, whatever code used, the response functions were rather similar for neutron energies below 20 MeV, for all 16 detector/moderator combinations of the considered BSS system. For higher energies, however, differences of more than a factor of 2 were observed, depending on neutron energy, detector/moderator combination, MC code, and nuclear model used. These differences are discussed in terms of neutron fluence rates measured at the environmental research station (UFS), “Schneefernerhaus”, (Zugspitze mountain, Germany, 2650 m a.s.l.) for energies below 0.4 eV (thermal neutrons), between 0.4 eV and 100 keV (epithermal neutrons), between 100 keV and 20 MeV (evaporation neutrons), and above 20 MeV (cascade neutrons). In terms of total neutron fluence rates, relative differences of up to 4% were obtained when compared to the standard MCNP/LAHET results, while in terms of total ambient dose equivalent, relative differences of up to 8% were obtained. Both the GEANT4 Binary INC and Bertini INC gave somewhat larger fluence and dose rates in the epithermal region. Most relevant for dose, however, those response functions calculated with the GEANT4 Bertini INC model provided about 18% less neutrons in the cascade region, which led to a roughly 13% smaller contribution of these neutrons to ambient dose equivalent. It is concluded that doses from secondary neutrons from cosmic radiation as deduced from BSS measurements are uncertain by about 10%, simply because of some differences in nuclear models used by various neutron transport codes.     

Influence of a carbon over-coat on the X-ray reflectance of XEUS mirrors

We describe measurements of the X-ray reflectance in the range 2-10 keV of samples representative of coated silicon wafers that are proposed for the fabrication of the X-ray evolving universe spectrometer (XEUS) mission. We compare the reflectance of silicon samples coated with bare Pt, with that for samples with an additional 10 nm thick carbon over-coating. We demonstrate a significant improvement in reflectance in the energy range ∼1-4 keV, and at a grazing incidence angle of 10 mrad (0.57°). We consider the resulting effective area that could be attained with an optimized design of the XEUS telescope. Typically an improvement of 10-60% in effective area, depending on photon energy, can be achieved using the carbon overcoat.     

A telescope for α-particle spectrometry

An alpha spectrometer based on a telescope consisting of two silicon semiconductor surface barrier detectors is described. The spectrometer has been used to study the α-particle energy spectra of an (n,α)-type reaction and ternary fission of uranium in an energy range 4–30 MeV with a resolution of 85 keV.     

Determination of the thickness of a gold layer deposited onto silicon via reflected electron spectroscopy

The energy spectra of electrons reflected from a gold layer deposited onto a silicon substrate have been measured when the energy losses are comparable with the energy of a probe electron beam (5 keV) and the elastic energy losses correspond to an electron-beam energy of 14 keV. A subsequent theory for calculating the energy spectra of electrons and light ions reflected from a multilayer target, which is used to interpret the energy spectra measured in the wide range of energy losses, has been developed. It is found that the elastic scattering processes in the gold layer (the thickness of which is tens of monolayers) substantially affect formation of the energy spectra. The Au layer thicknesses calculated by means of the developed theory are compared with those determined from the spectra of elastically reflected electrons. The errors of the Au layer thickness measurements via the proposed method are discussed.     

Electron penetration depth in amorphous AlN exploiting the luminescence of AlN:Tm/AlN:Ho bilayers

The penetration depth of electron in amorphous aluminum nitride (AlN) is determined in terms of energy loss per unit length using electron beam in a cathodoluminescence (CL) apparatus. Thin films bilayers of holmium doped aluminum nitride (AlN:Ho) and thulium doped aluminum nitride (AlN:Tm) are deposited on silicon substrates by rf magnetron sputtering method at liquid nitrogen temperatures. The bilayers structure consisted of a 37.8 nm thick AlN:Tm film on the top of a 15.3 nm thick AlN:Ho film. Electron beam of different energies are allowed to penetrate the AlN:Tm/AlN:Ho bilayers film. The spectroscopic properties of AlN:Ho and AlN:Tm, the thickness of the film and the energies of electron beam are used to calculate the penetration depth of electron in amorphous AlN. Electron beam of 2.5 keV energy was able to pass through the 37.8 nm thick AlN:Tm film. The electron penetration depth for AlN is found to be 661.4 MeV/cm.     

Dosimetry and spectrometry at accelerator based neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy

An innovative accelerator-based neutron source for boron neutron capture therapy has started operation at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk. This facility is based on a compact vacuum insulation tandem accelerator designed to produce proton current up to 10 mA. Epithermal neutrons are proposed to be generated by 1.915 MeV protons bombarding a lithium target using ⁷Li(p,n)⁷Be threshold reaction.In the article, techniques to detect neutron and gamma-rays at the facility are described. Gamma radiation is measured with NaI and BGO gamma-spectrometers. The total yield of neutrons is determined by measuring the 477 keV γ-quanta from beryllium decay. For the rough analysis of the generated neutron spectrum we used bubble detectors. As the epithermal neutrons are of interest for neutron capture therapy the NaI detector is used as activation detector. We plan to use a time-of-flight technique for neutron spectra measurement. To realize this technique a new solution of short time neutron generation is proposed.     

Photoproduction of high-energy neutrons in thick targets by electrons in the energy range 150 to 270 MeV

Photoneutron spectra with energies greater than 12 MeV produced by electrons incident on a thick lead target have been measured for primary electron energies between 150 and 266 MeV and at a fixed angle of 90 ° to the beam axis. Measurements of the neutron yield have furthermore been performed at a primary energy of 234 MeV as a function of target depth for the same lead target and as a function of the mass number for C, Al, Cu, Cd and Pb targets. The results were obtained with three independent neutron detectors: two proton recoil counters and one time-of-flight set-up. The high-energy regions of the spectra are compared with the predictions of the phenomenological quasi-deuteron model and a satisfactory agreement in shape and scale of the spectra is found. Additional high-energy neutrons from pion reabsorption processes were observed at electron energies of 234 and 266 MeV.