A prototype detector for directional measurement of the cosmogenic neutron flux

This paper describes a novel directional neutron detector. The low pressure time projection chamber uses a mix of helium and CF4 gases. The detector reconstructs the energy and angular distribution of fast neutron recoils. This paper reports results of energy calibration using an α source and angula...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment, 2012-05, Vol.673, p.22-31
Main Authors: Lopez, J., Terao, K., Conrad, J.M., Dujmic, D., Winslow, L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Detectors
Fast neutrons
Fluorine
Helium
Muon interactions
Neutrino
Neutron detector
Neutron production
Neutron sources
Recoil
Reconstruction
Spectrometers
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Summary:This paper describes a novel directional neutron detector. The low pressure time projection chamber uses a mix of helium and CF4 gases. The detector reconstructs the energy and angular distribution of fast neutron recoils. This paper reports results of energy calibration using an α source and angular reconstruction studies using a collimated neutron source. The best performance is obtained with a 12.5% CF4–87.5% He gas mixture. At low energies the target for fast neutrons transitions is primarily helium, while at higher energies, the fluorine contributes as a target. The reconstruction efficiency is both energy and target dependent. For neutrons with energies less than 20MeV, the reconstruction efficiency is ∼40% for fluorine recoils and ∼60% for helium recoils.
ISSN:0168-9002
1872-9576
DOI:10.1016/j.nima.2012.01.021