Development of a Neutron Spectrometer Utilizing Rubberized Eu:LiCAF Wafers
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-2020
Abstract
portable ten-layer neutron spectrometer has been developed using a novel material, LiCAF. The spectrometer consists of rubber matrix wafers with embedded europium doped lithium calcium aluminum fluoride (Eu:LiCAF) crystals and crosshatched wave shifting fibers (WSF). Layers of high density polyethylene (HDPE) separating each Eu:LiCAF wafer serve as neutron moderating material. Neutrons entering the spectrometer react in the Eu:LiCAF crystal, creating scintillation photons. The photons travel down the WSFs to silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs) that convert the photons to an electrical signal. Custom electronics are used to gather, amplify, process, and readout the signal. A library of several neutron response curves was created in Geant4 and MCNP. The experimental output of the spectrometer was unfolded using a maximum entropy algorithm, MAXED. The spectrometer was tested using two separate DD generators. These two tests resulted in unfolded neutron spectra with average neutron energies of 2.71 and 2.78 MeV and chi-squared values of 0.88 and 1.51 x2 /D.O.F. respectively, when fit to a 2.45 MeV monoenergetic energy spectrum.
DOI
10.1016/j.nima.2018.11.144
Source Publication
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
Recommended Citation
Ford, M. A., O’Day, B. E., McClory, J. W., & Danagoulian, A. (2020). Development of a neutron spectrometer utilizing rubberized Eu:LiCAF wafers. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 954(21 Feburary), 161685. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2018.11.144
Comments
Accepted manuscript (postprint) version.
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