Robert Johnson Faculty: Dr. Calvin Howell Grad Student: David Ticehurst Development of a Neutron Detector with Kinetic Energy Measurement Capability

Motivation  Basic research in nuclear physics  Scattering Reaction  Transfer Reaction  Charge Exchange  Applications  Neutron Detection without using T.O.F method  Nuclear Security

Proven Technology  Moderation and then Charge Exchange  Effective as neutron counter  Detection Efficiency: 40-45%  Timing on the order of μs  Scintillation  Effective neutron counter  Detection efficiency: 20-25%  Timing on the order of ns  Energy information using T.O.F techniques

Experimental Set-up  Two PMTs attached to a 10 Boron loaded  Analog  MPD-4 -> TAC  Digital  Digitizer  Sources used  22 Na (Calibration/Testing)  137 CS (Calibration/Testing)  AmBe (Neutron Source)

Data Acquisition(PH) Energy Resolution: 26%

Data Acquisition(PSD)  Pulse Shape Discrimination

Data Acquisition(PH vs. PSD)

Second Pulse  Reaction  10 B + n -> 6 Li + α + ϒ (480 keV)  Shows that all the energy in the initial reaction was released in the scintillator  Can only be detected with the digital set up

Results of Time difference Time (ns)

Future Plans  Finish the code to analyze the PH, PSD of second pulse  Search for the alpha particles

References  Knoll, Glenn F. Radiation Detection and Measurement. 4th ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Print.