Measurement of internal conversion electrons from Gd neutron capture

P. Kandlakunta; L. R. Cao; P. Mulligan

doi:10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077

Measurement of internal conversion electrons from Gd neutron capture

P. Kandlakunta
, L. R. Cao
, P. Mulligan

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

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gadolinium (Gd) is a suitable material for neutron conversion because of its superior neutron absorption cross-section. However, the principal secondary particles that generate electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor detector after Gd neutron capture are low-energy internal conversion (IC) electrons. We measured the IC electron spectrum due to Gd neutron capture by using a thermal neutron beam and a digitizer-based multidetector spectroscopy. We also discussed the effective use of the IC electrons in the context of a twin-detector design and the associated gamma-ray rejection issues. Extensive simulations of the spectra of IC electrons and gamma rays agreed well with the experimental results; both types of results support the feasibility of the proposed n-γ separation method.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	36-41
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Volume	705
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077
State	Published - Mar 21 2013
Externally published	Yes

Funding

We acknowledge the support of the OSURR reactor staff for the measurements made at the reactor lab. This research is being performed using funding received from the U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Grant no. HDTRA1-11-1–0013 ).

Keywords

Gadolinium neutron absorption
Gamma-ray rejection
Internal conversion electrons
Semiconductor

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10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077

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abstract = "Gadolinium (Gd) is a suitable material for neutron conversion because of its superior neutron absorption cross-section. However, the principal secondary particles that generate electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor detector after Gd neutron capture are low-energy internal conversion (IC) electrons. We measured the IC electron spectrum due to Gd neutron capture by using a thermal neutron beam and a digitizer-based multidetector spectroscopy. We also discussed the effective use of the IC electrons in the context of a twin-detector design and the associated gamma-ray rejection issues. Extensive simulations of the spectra of IC electrons and gamma rays agreed well with the experimental results; both types of results support the feasibility of the proposed n-γ separation method.",

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author = "P. Kandlakunta and Cao, \{L. R.\} and P. Mulligan",

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doi = "10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077",

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T1 - Measurement of internal conversion electrons from Gd neutron capture

AU - Kandlakunta, P.

AU - Cao, L. R.

AU - Mulligan, P.

PY - 2013/3/21

Y1 - 2013/3/21

N2 - Gadolinium (Gd) is a suitable material for neutron conversion because of its superior neutron absorption cross-section. However, the principal secondary particles that generate electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor detector after Gd neutron capture are low-energy internal conversion (IC) electrons. We measured the IC electron spectrum due to Gd neutron capture by using a thermal neutron beam and a digitizer-based multidetector spectroscopy. We also discussed the effective use of the IC electrons in the context of a twin-detector design and the associated gamma-ray rejection issues. Extensive simulations of the spectra of IC electrons and gamma rays agreed well with the experimental results; both types of results support the feasibility of the proposed n-γ separation method.

AB - Gadolinium (Gd) is a suitable material for neutron conversion because of its superior neutron absorption cross-section. However, the principal secondary particles that generate electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor detector after Gd neutron capture are low-energy internal conversion (IC) electrons. We measured the IC electron spectrum due to Gd neutron capture by using a thermal neutron beam and a digitizer-based multidetector spectroscopy. We also discussed the effective use of the IC electrons in the context of a twin-detector design and the associated gamma-ray rejection issues. Extensive simulations of the spectra of IC electrons and gamma rays agreed well with the experimental results; both types of results support the feasibility of the proposed n-γ separation method.

KW - Gadolinium neutron absorption

KW - Gamma-ray rejection

KW - Internal conversion electrons

KW - Semiconductor

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DO - 10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077

M3 - Article

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SN - 0168-9002

VL - 705

SP - 36

EP - 41

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

ER -

Measurement of internal conversion electrons from Gd neutron capture

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