Characterisation of neutron fields at the n-lab, a fast neutron facility at the University of Cape Town

• Published in: Applied radiation and isotopes 2024-04, Vol.206, p.111196-111196, Article 111196
• Main Authors: Hutton, Tanya, Buffler, Andy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: EJ-301 liquid scintillator; Fast neutron beams; MAXED spectrum unfolding; Neutron activation analysis
• ISSN: 0969-8043; 1872-9800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111196

The n-lab is a fast neutron facility based in the Department of Physics, University of Cape Town, offering collimated neutron beams produced by an MP 320 deuterium–tritium sealed tube neutron generator, and a 220 GBq americium–beryllium radioisotopic source. Characterisations of the spatial and energy distributions of the fast neutron beams were performed using an EJ-301 organic liquid scintillator detector and digital data acquisition system. Neutron energy spectra were obtained through unfolding analyses with MAXED, and a Monte Carlo approach to the propagation of uncertainties was implemented. Measurements of fluence and neutron emission rates were determined through the neutron activation of copper foils and subsequently used to validate the scaling of the unfolded neutron energy spectra. •The n-lab infrastructure and standard neutron measurement processes are presented.•Neutron beams produced using a deuterium-tritium neutron generator and 241AmBe source.•Neutron energy spectra measured using an EJ-301 scintillator and unfolded with MAXED.•EJ-301 energy calibration uncertainties propagated using Monte Carlo methods.•Validation of fluence measurements by delayed gamma activation analysis.