Simulation of the Response of the Solid State Neutron Detector for the European Spallation Source

The characteristics of the Solid-state Neutron Detector, under development for neutron-scattering measurements at the European Spallation Source, have been simulated with a Geant4-based computer code. The code models the interations of thermal neutrons and ionising radiation in the 6Li-doped scintillating glass of the detector, the production of scintillation light and the transport of optical, scintillation photons through the the scintillator, en route to the photo-cathode of the attached multi-anode photomultiplier. Factors which affect the optical-photon transport, such as surface finish, pixelation of the glass sheet, provision of a front reflector and optical coupling media are compared. Predictions of the detector response are compared with measurements made with neutron and gamma-ray sources, a collimated alpha source and finely collimated beams of 2.5 MeV protons and deuterons.Comment: Preprint 22 pages, 12 figures, published in NIM

Light-yield response of liquid scintillators using 2–6 MeV tagged neutrons

Knowledge of the neutron light-yield response is crucial to the understanding of scintillator-based neutron detectors. In this work, neutrons from 2–6MeV have been used to study the scintillation light-yield response of the liquid scintillators NE 213A, EJ 305, EJ 331 and EJ 321P using event-by-event waveform digitization. Energy calibration was performed using a GEANT4 model to locate the edge positions of the Compton distributions produced by gamma-ray sources. The simulated light yield for neutrons from a PuBe source was compared to measured recoil proton distributions, where neutron energy was selected by time-of-flight. This resulted in an energy-dependent Birks parameterization to characterize the non-linear response to the lower energy neutrons. The NE 213A and EJ 305 results agree very well with existing data and are reproduced nicely by the simulation. New results for EJ 331 and EJ 321P, where the simulation also reproduces the data well, are presented

Response of a Li-glass/multi-anode photomultiplier detector to collimated thermal-neutron beams

The response of a position-sensitive Li-glass scintillator detector being developed for thermal-neutron detection with 6 mm position resolution has been investigated using collimated beams of thermal neutrons. The detector was moved perpendicularly through the neutron beams in 0.5 to 1.0 mm horizontal and vertical steps. Scintillation was detected in an 8 X 8 pixel multi-anode photomultiplier tube on an event-by-event basis. In general, several pixels registered large signals at each neutron-beam location. The number of pixels registering signal above a set threshold was investigated, with the maximization of the single-hit efficiency over the largest possible area of the detector as the primary goal. At a threshold of ~50% of the mean of the full-deposition peak, ~80% of the events were registered in a single pixel, resulting in an effective position resolution of ~5 mm in X and Y. Lower thresholds generally resulted in events demonstrating higher pixel multiplicities, but these events could also be localized with ~5 mm position resolution.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Response of a Li-glass/multi-anode photomultiplier detector to α-particles from ²⁴¹Am

The response of a position-sensitive Li-glass scintillator detector to -particles from a collimated ²⁴¹Am source scanned across the face of the detector has been measured. Scintillation light was read out by an 8 x 8 pixel multi-anode photomultiplier and the signal amplitude for each pixel has been recorded for every position on a scan. The pixel signal is strongly dependent on position and in general several pixels will register a signal (a hit) above a given threshold. The effect of this threshold on hit multiplicity is studied, with a view to optimize the single-hit efficiency of the detector

A polyethylene-B4C based concrete for enhanced neutron shielding at neutron research facilities

We present the development of a specialized concrete for neutron shielding at neutron research facilities, based on the addition of hydrogen atoms in the form of polyethylene and also B4C for enhancing the neutron capture properties of the concrete. We show information on the mechanical properties of the concrete and the neutronics, in particular its relevance to modern spallation neutron sources, such as the European Spallation Source (ESS), currently under construction in Lund, Sweden. The new concrete exhibits a 15% lower mass density, a compressible strength of 50% relative to a standard concrete and a significant increase in performance of shielding against MeV neutrons and lower energies. The concrete could find application at the ESS in for example common shielding components, individual beamline shielding and instrument caves. Initial neutronic tests of the concrete, carried out at Lund University, have also verified the performance in the MeV neutron energy range and the results are presented

Tagging fast neutrons from a Cf-252 fission-fragment source

Coincidence and time-of-flight measurement techniques are employed to tag fission neutrons emitted from a Cf-252 source sealed on one side with a very thin layer of Au. The source is positioned within a gaseous He-4 scintillator detector. Together with a particles, both light and heavy fission fragments pass through the thin layer of Au and are detected. The fragments enable the corresponding fission neutrons, which are detected in a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector, to be tagged. The resulting continuous polychromatic beam of tagged neutrons has an energy dependence that agrees qualitatively with expectations. We anticipate that this technique will provide a cost-effective means for the characterization of neutron-detector efficiency in the energy range 1-6 MeV

GEANT4-based calibration of an organic liquid scintillator

A light-yield calibration of an NE 213A organic liquid scintillator detector has been performed using both monoenergetic and polyenergetic gamma-ray sources. Scintillation light was detected in a photomultiplier tube, and the corresponding pulses were subjected to waveform digitization on an event-by-event basis. The resulting Compton edges have been analyzed using a GEANT4 simulation of the detector which models both the interactions of the ionizing radiation as well as the transport of scintillation photons. The simulation is calibrated and also compared to well-established prescriptions used to determine the Compton edges, resulting ultimately in light-yield calibration functions. In the process, the simulation-based method produced information on the gain and intrinsic pulse-height resolution of the detector. It also facilitated a previously inaccessible understanding of the systematic uncertainties associated with the calibration of the scintillation-light yield. The simulation-based method was also compared to well-established numerical prescriptions for locating the Compton edges. Ultimately, the simulation predicted as much as 17% lower light-yield calibrations than the prescriptions. These calibrations indicate that approximately 35% of the scintillation light associated with a given gamma-ray reaches the photocathode. It is remarkable how well two 50 year old prescriptions for calibrating scintillation-light yield in organic scintillators have stood the test of time

Technique for the measurement of intrinsic pulse-shape discrimination for organic scintillators using tagged neutrons

Fast-neutron/gamma-ray pulse-shape discrimination has been performed for the organic liquid scintillators NE 213A and EJ 305 using a time-of-flight based neutron-tagging technique and waveform digitization on an event-by-event basis. Gamma-ray sources and a Geant4-based simulation were used to calibrate the scintillation-light yield. The difference in pulse shape for the neutron and gamma-ray events was analyzed by integrating selected portions of the digitized waveform to produce a figure-of-merit for neutron/gamma-ray separation. This figure-of-merit has been mapped as a function of detector threshold and also of neutron energy determined from time-of-flight. It shows clearly that the well-established pulse-shape discrimination capabilities of NE 213A are superior to those of EJ 305. The extra information provided by the neutron-tagging technique has resulted in a far more detailed assessment of the pulse-shape-discrimination capabilities of these organic scintillators

GEANT4-based calibration of an organic liquid scintillator

A light-yield calibration of an NE 213A organic liquid scintillator detector has been performed using both monoenergetic and polyenergetic gamma-ray sources. Scintillation light was detected in a photomultiplier tube, and the corresponding pulses were subjected to waveform digitization on an event-by-event basis. The resulting Compton edges have been analyzed using a GEANT4 simulation of the detector which models both the interactions of the ionizing radiation as well as the transport of scintillation photons. The simulation is calibrated and also compared to well-established prescriptions used to determine the Compton edges, resulting ultimately in light-yield calibration functions. In the process, the simulation-based method produced information on the gain and intrinsic pulse-height resolution of the detector. It also facilitated a previously inaccessible understanding of the systematic uncertainties associated with the calibration of the scintillation-light yield. The simulation-based method was also compared to well-established numerical prescriptions for locating the Compton edges. Ultimately, the simulation predicted as much as 17% lower light-yield calibrations than the prescriptions. These calibrations indicate that approximately 35% of the scintillation light associated with a given gamma-ray reaches the photocathode. It is remarkable how well two 50 year old prescriptions for calibrating scintillation-light yield in organic scintillators have stood the test of time