Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities

J. Heideman; D. Pérez-Loureiro; R. Grzywacz; C. R. Thornsberry; J. Chan; L. H. Heilbronn; S. K. Neupane; K. Schmitt; M. M. Rajabali; A. R. Engelhardt; C. W. Howell; L. D. Mostella; J. S. Owens; S. C. Shadrick; E. E. Peters; A. P.D. Ramirez; S. W. Yates; K. Vaigneur

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities

J. Heideman, D. Pérez-Loureiro, R. Grzywacz, C. R. Thornsberry, J. Chan, L. H. Heilbronn, S. K. Neupane, K. Schmitt, M. M. Rajabali, A. R. Engelhardt, C. W. Howell, L. D. Mostella, J. S. Owens, S. C. Shadrick, E. E. Peters, A. P.D. Ramirez, S. W. Yates, K. Vaigneur

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new high-precision detector for studying neutrons from beta-delayed neutron emission and direct reaction studies is proposed. The Neutron dEtector with multi-neutron (denoted Xn) Tracking (NEXT) array is designed to maintain high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency while reducing uncertainties in neutron energy measurements. A single NEXT module is composed of thin segments of plastic scintillator, each optically separated, capable of neutron-gamma discrimination. Each segmented module is coupled to position sensitive photodetectors enabling the high-precision determination of neutron time of arrival and interaction position within the active volume. A design study has been conducted based on simulations and experimental tests leading to the construction of prototype units. First results from measurements using a ²⁵²Cf neutron source and accelerator-produced monoenergetic neutrons are presented.

Original language	English
Article number	162528
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	946
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528
State	Published - Dec 1 2019
Externally published	Yes

Funding

This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy , National Nuclear Security Administration, USA under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances program through DOE Award No. DE-NA0002934 and DE-NA0002132 and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science through DOE Award No. DE-SC0016988 . This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration, USA under the Stewardship Science Academic Alliances program through DOE Award No. DE-NA0002934 and DE-NA0002132 and the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science through DOE Award No. DE-SC0016988.

Funders	Funder number
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
National Science Foundation	1913028, 1919735
U.S. Department of Energy	DE-SC0016988, DE-NA0002934, DE-NA0002132
National Nuclear Security Administration

Keywords

Beta-delayed neutron emission
Direct reactions
Neutron detection
Pulse shape discrimination
Time of flight

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10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

Cite this

Heideman, J., Pérez-Loureiro, D., Grzywacz, R., Thornsberry, C. R., Chan, J., Heilbronn, L. H., Neupane, S. K., Schmitt, K., Rajabali, M. M., Engelhardt, A. R., Howell, C. W., Mostella, L. D., Owens, J. S., Shadrick, S. C., Peters, E. E., Ramirez, A. P. D., Yates, S. W., & Vaigneur, K. (2019). Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 946, Article 162528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

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abstract = "A new high-precision detector for studying neutrons from beta-delayed neutron emission and direct reaction studies is proposed. The Neutron dEtector with multi-neutron (denoted Xn) Tracking (NEXT) array is designed to maintain high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency while reducing uncertainties in neutron energy measurements. A single NEXT module is composed of thin segments of plastic scintillator, each optically separated, capable of neutron-gamma discrimination. Each segmented module is coupled to position sensitive photodetectors enabling the high-precision determination of neutron time of arrival and interaction position within the active volume. A design study has been conducted based on simulations and experimental tests leading to the construction of prototype units. First results from measurements using a 252Cf neutron source and accelerator-produced monoenergetic neutrons are presented.",

keywords = "Beta-delayed neutron emission, Direct reactions, Neutron detection, Pulse shape discrimination, Time of flight",

author = "J. Heideman and D. P{\'e}rez-Loureiro and R. Grzywacz and Thornsberry, {C. R.} and J. Chan and Heilbronn, {L. H.} and Neupane, {S. K.} and K. Schmitt and Rajabali, {M. M.} and Engelhardt, {A. R.} and Howell, {C. W.} and Mostella, {L. D.} and Owens, {J. S.} and Shadrick, {S. C.} and Peters, {E. E.} and Ramirez, {A. P.D.} and Yates, {S. W.} and K. Vaigneur",

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year = "2019",

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doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528",

language = "English",

volume = "946",

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Heideman, J, Pérez-Loureiro, D, Grzywacz, R, Thornsberry, CR, Chan, J, Heilbronn, LH, Neupane, SK, Schmitt, K, Rajabali, MM, Engelhardt, AR, Howell, CW, Mostella, LD, Owens, JS, Shadrick, SC, Peters, EE, Ramirez, APD, Yates, SW & Vaigneur, K 2019, 'Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities', Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, vol. 946, 162528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities. / Heideman, J.; Pérez-Loureiro, D.; Grzywacz, R. et al.
In: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, Vol. 946, 162528, 01.12.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities

AU - Heideman, J.

AU - Pérez-Loureiro, D.

AU - Grzywacz, R.

AU - Thornsberry, C. R.

AU - Chan, J.

AU - Heilbronn, L. H.

AU - Neupane, S. K.

AU - Schmitt, K.

AU - Rajabali, M. M.

AU - Engelhardt, A. R.

AU - Howell, C. W.

AU - Mostella, L. D.

AU - Owens, J. S.

AU - Shadrick, S. C.

AU - Peters, E. E.

AU - Ramirez, A. P.D.

AU - Yates, S. W.

AU - Vaigneur, K.

PY - 2019/12/1

Y1 - 2019/12/1

N2 - A new high-precision detector for studying neutrons from beta-delayed neutron emission and direct reaction studies is proposed. The Neutron dEtector with multi-neutron (denoted Xn) Tracking (NEXT) array is designed to maintain high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency while reducing uncertainties in neutron energy measurements. A single NEXT module is composed of thin segments of plastic scintillator, each optically separated, capable of neutron-gamma discrimination. Each segmented module is coupled to position sensitive photodetectors enabling the high-precision determination of neutron time of arrival and interaction position within the active volume. A design study has been conducted based on simulations and experimental tests leading to the construction of prototype units. First results from measurements using a 252Cf neutron source and accelerator-produced monoenergetic neutrons are presented.

AB - A new high-precision detector for studying neutrons from beta-delayed neutron emission and direct reaction studies is proposed. The Neutron dEtector with multi-neutron (denoted Xn) Tracking (NEXT) array is designed to maintain high intrinsic neutron detection efficiency while reducing uncertainties in neutron energy measurements. A single NEXT module is composed of thin segments of plastic scintillator, each optically separated, capable of neutron-gamma discrimination. Each segmented module is coupled to position sensitive photodetectors enabling the high-precision determination of neutron time of arrival and interaction position within the active volume. A design study has been conducted based on simulations and experimental tests leading to the construction of prototype units. First results from measurements using a 252Cf neutron source and accelerator-produced monoenergetic neutrons are presented.

KW - Beta-delayed neutron emission

KW - Direct reactions

KW - Neutron detection

KW - Pulse shape discrimination

KW - Time of flight

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U2 - 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85072162659

SN - 0168-9002

VL - 946

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment

M1 - 162528

ER -

Heideman J, Pérez-Loureiro D, Grzywacz R, Thornsberry CR, Chan J, Heilbronn LH et al. Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment. 2019 Dec 1;946:162528. doi: 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162528

Conceptual design and first results for a neutron detector with interaction localization capabilities

Abstract

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Keywords

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