Robert Johnson Faculty: Dr. Calvin Howell Grad Student: David Ticehurst Development of a Neutron...

Robert JohnsonFaculty: Dr. Calvin HowellGrad Student: David Ticehurst

Development of a Neutron Detector with Kinetic Energy Measurement Capability

MotivationBasic research in nuclear physics

Scattering Reaction Transfer Reaction Charge Exchange

Applications Neutron Detection without using T.O.F method Nuclear Security

Proven TechnologyModeration and then Charge Exchange

Effective as neutron counter Detection Efficiency: 40-45% Timing on the order of μs

Scintillation Effective neutron counter Detection efficiency: 20-25% Timing on the order of ns Energy information using T.O.F techniques

Experimental Set-upTwo PMTs attached to a 10Boron loaded

Analog MPD-4 -> TAC

Digital Digitizer

Sources used 22Na (Calibration/Testing) 137CS (Calibration/Testing) AmBe (Neutron Source)

Data Acquisition(PH)Energy Resolution: 26%

Data Acquisition(PSD)Pulse Shape Discrimination

Data Acquisition(PH vs. PSD)

Second PulseReaction

10B + n -> 6Li + α + ϒ(480 keV)

Shows that all the energy in the initial reaction was released in the scintillator

Can only be detected with the digital set up

Results of Time difference

Time (ns)

Future PlansFinish the code to analyze the PH, PSD of

second pulse

Search for the alpha particles

ReferencesKnoll, Glenn F. Radiation Detection and

Measurement. 4th ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2012. Print.