Neutron multiplicity counter

R. L. Macklin; F. M. Glass; J. Halperin; R. T. Roseberry; H. W. Schmitt; R. W. Stoughton; M. Tobias

doi:10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X

Neutron multiplicity counter

R. L. Macklin, F. M. Glass, J. Halperin, R. T. Roseberry, H. W. Schmitt, R. W. Stoughton, M. Tobias

HFIR Upgrades

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

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

A neutron multiplicity counter assembly has been constructed to enable a search for superheavy elements in natural samples and in accelerator targets. The detector consists of twenty ³He counters placed in a paraffin moderator. These counters surround a central sample cavity with a capacity of about 20 1, capable of accomodating samples up to 100 kg in weight, depending on the density. A particular feature of this counter is its relative insensitivity to gamma rays. The efficiency for detecting a single neutron is ≈ 30%. An estimate of v, the number of neutrons emitted per fission in a sample, may be obtained from the observed multiplicity distribution P(n), where n is the number of neutron counts in an event. More accurate values of v may be obtained for small, isolated samples of spontaneously fissioning isotopes, where the neutron counters may be gated by a fission fragment detector. The design of the counter and an analysis of its properties are presented.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	181-187
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nuclear Instruments and Methods
Volume	102
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X
State	Published - Jul 1 1972

Funding

* Research sponsored by the U S. Atomic Energy Commission under contract with the Union Carbide Corporation.

Access to Document

10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X

Cite this

@article{3cd4025b80a04c8fa1b76b7842aa328b,

title = "Neutron multiplicity counter",

abstract = "A neutron multiplicity counter assembly has been constructed to enable a search for superheavy elements in natural samples and in accelerator targets. The detector consists of twenty 3He counters placed in a paraffin moderator. These counters surround a central sample cavity with a capacity of about 20 1, capable of accomodating samples up to 100 kg in weight, depending on the density. A particular feature of this counter is its relative insensitivity to gamma rays. The efficiency for detecting a single neutron is ≈ 30%. An estimate of v, the number of neutrons emitted per fission in a sample, may be obtained from the observed multiplicity distribution P(n), where n is the number of neutron counts in an event. More accurate values of v may be obtained for small, isolated samples of spontaneously fissioning isotopes, where the neutron counters may be gated by a fission fragment detector. The design of the counter and an analysis of its properties are presented.",

author = "Macklin, {R. L.} and Glass, {F. M.} and J. Halperin and Roseberry, {R. T.} and Schmitt, {H. W.} and Stoughton, {R. W.} and M. Tobias",

year = "1972",

month = jul,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X",

language = "English",

volume = "102",

pages = "181--187",

journal = "Nuclear Instruments and Methods",

issn = "0029-554X",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Neutron multiplicity counter

AU - Macklin, R. L.

AU - Glass, F. M.

AU - Halperin, J.

AU - Roseberry, R. T.

AU - Schmitt, H. W.

AU - Stoughton, R. W.

AU - Tobias, M.

PY - 1972/7/1

Y1 - 1972/7/1

N2 - A neutron multiplicity counter assembly has been constructed to enable a search for superheavy elements in natural samples and in accelerator targets. The detector consists of twenty 3He counters placed in a paraffin moderator. These counters surround a central sample cavity with a capacity of about 20 1, capable of accomodating samples up to 100 kg in weight, depending on the density. A particular feature of this counter is its relative insensitivity to gamma rays. The efficiency for detecting a single neutron is ≈ 30%. An estimate of v, the number of neutrons emitted per fission in a sample, may be obtained from the observed multiplicity distribution P(n), where n is the number of neutron counts in an event. More accurate values of v may be obtained for small, isolated samples of spontaneously fissioning isotopes, where the neutron counters may be gated by a fission fragment detector. The design of the counter and an analysis of its properties are presented.

AB - A neutron multiplicity counter assembly has been constructed to enable a search for superheavy elements in natural samples and in accelerator targets. The detector consists of twenty 3He counters placed in a paraffin moderator. These counters surround a central sample cavity with a capacity of about 20 1, capable of accomodating samples up to 100 kg in weight, depending on the density. A particular feature of this counter is its relative insensitivity to gamma rays. The efficiency for detecting a single neutron is ≈ 30%. An estimate of v, the number of neutrons emitted per fission in a sample, may be obtained from the observed multiplicity distribution P(n), where n is the number of neutron counts in an event. More accurate values of v may be obtained for small, isolated samples of spontaneously fissioning isotopes, where the neutron counters may be gated by a fission fragment detector. The design of the counter and an analysis of its properties are presented.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0015368813&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X

DO - 10.1016/0029-554X(72)90537-X

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:0015368813

SN - 0029-554X

VL - 102

SP - 181

EP - 187

JO - Nuclear Instruments and Methods

JF - Nuclear Instruments and Methods

IS - 1

ER -

Neutron multiplicity counter

Abstract

Funding

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this