Geant4 based simulations for novel neutron detector development

A Geant4-based Python/C++ simulation and coding framework, which has been developed and used in order to aid the R&D efforts for thermal neutron detectors at neutron scattering facilities, is described. Built upon configurable geometry and generator modules, it integrates a general purpose object oriented output file format with meta-data, developed in order to facilitate a faster turn-around time when setting up and analysing simulations. Also discussed are the extensions to Geant4 which have been implemented in order to include the effects of low-energy phenomena such as Bragg diffraction in the polycrystalline support materials of the detector. Finally, an example application of the framework is briefly shown.Comment: Proceedings for the 20th International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics (CHEP

Monte Carlo Particle Lists: MCPL

A binary format with lists of particle state information, for interchanging particles between various Monte Carlo simulation applications, is presented. Portable C code for file manipulation is made available to the scientific community, along with converters and plugins for several popular simulation packages

Simulation Tools for Detector and Instrument Design

The high performance requirements at the European Spallation Source have been driving the technological advances on the neutron detector front. Now more than ever is it important to optimize the design of detectors and instruments, to fully exploit the ESS source brilliance. Most of the simulation tools the neutron scattering community has at their disposal target the instrument optimization until the sample position, with little focus on detectors. The ESS Detector Group has extended the capabilities of existing detector simulation tools to bridge this gap. An extensive software framework has been developed, enabling efficient and collaborative developments of required simulations and analyses -- based on the use of the Geant4 Monte Carlo toolkit, but with extended physics capabilities where relevant (like for Bragg diffraction of thermal neutrons in crystals). Furthermore, the MCPL (Monte Carlo Particle Lists) particle data exchange file format, currently supported for the primary Monte Carlo tools of the community (McStas, Geant4 and MCNP), facilitates the integration of detector simulations with existing simulations of instruments using these software packages. These means offer a powerful set of tools to tailor the detector and instrument design to the instrument application

First evaluation of a novel ionisation chamber for thermal neutron beam monitoring

The European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS), currently under construction in Lund, Sweden is a facility established to deliver the highest integrated neutron flux originating from a pulsed source with the aim of supporting an initial fifteen neutron instruments for cutting edge science experiments. This in turn requires reliable monitoring at complex neutron beam lines: in particular, linearity, timing capability, adaptability of the design for various flux ranges (dynamic range) and sensitivity to neutrons within the range of 0.6-10Å are expected from the neutron beam monitors to be installed at the ESS beam lines. Additionally, operational stability and low attenuation are also desirable characteristics for such neutron beam monitoring. A prototype neutron beam monitor based on the ionisation chamber principle and a boron converter, designed by CDT CASCADE Detector Technologies GmbH and ESS, has been investigated at the BER-II research reactor of Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB). The effort to design and investigate a thermal neutron ionisation beam monitor was initiated by adapting the concept of ionisation chambers previously known elsewhere. So far all the characterised neutron beam monitors discriminate neutron hits on a discrete event basis (pulse mode), whereas the beam monitor prototype introduced in this paper estimates the total flux as a function of current (current mode). While most other neutron beam monitoring devices and detectors rely upon a signal amplifying gain stage, the ionisation chamber operates without any gain and is consequently robust against typical detector ageing effects that compromise the sensitivity over time. The initial tests were performed at the ESS V20 test beam line under realistic conditions resembling those of the future pulses of ESS. The linearity is demonstrated for 3Å pulses in the flux range of 2-3 × 105 n/s/cm2 and for white pulses (0.6-10Å) in the range of 1-5 × 106 n/s/cm2. The timing behaviour resembles the data previously recorded at the V20 beam lines. This novel implementation of a neutron sensitive ionisation chamber shows great promise for beam monitoring and diagnostics at ESS. As the ionisation beam monitor itself is an entirely passive device, it is adequately robust to be employed in areas of high irradiation where no regular servicing or maintenance can be provided

Overcoming High Energy Backgrounds at Pulsed Spallation Sources

Instrument backgrounds at neutron scattering facilities directly affect the quality and the efficiency of the scientific measurements that users perform. Part of the background at pulsed spallation neutron sources is caused by, and time-correlated with, the emission of high energy particles when the proton beam strikes the spallation target. This prompt pulse ultimately produces a signal, which can be highly problematic for a subset of instruments and measurements due to the time-correlated properties, and different to that from reactor sources. Measurements of this background have been made at both SNS (ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN, USA) and SINQ (PSI, Villigen, Switzerland). The background levels were generally found to be low compared to natural background. However, very low intensities of high-energy particles have been found to be detrimental to instrument performance in some conditions. Given that instrument performance is typically characterised by S/N, improvements in backgrounds can both improve instrument performance whilst at the same time delivering significant cost savings. A systematic holistic approach is suggested in this contribution to increase the effectiveness of this. Instrument performance should subsequently benefit.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures. Proceedings of ICANS XXI (International Collaboration on Advanced Neutron Sources), Mito, Japan. 201

3D silicon detectors for neutron imaging applications

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