P.Finocchiaro 1 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors HELNED: Helium-3-free low-cost neutron detectors 6 Li n 4 He 7 Li 3H3H Paolo Finocchiaro Luigi Cosentino, Carmelo Marchetta, Alfio Pappalardo, Sergio Scirè, Carlotta Scirè, Gianfranco Vecchio INFN Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, Catania, Italy

P.Finocchiaro 2 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors

P.Finocchiaro 3 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors Detector Mesh for Nuclear Repositories DMNR wireless network Data wired network local data storage remote data storage Web we implemented a low-cost granular radwaste monitoring system (gamma rays) see tomorrow’s talk of Alfio Pappalardo

P.Finocchiaro 4 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors why neutrons? upgrade: thermal neutron monitoring spent fuel monitoring in place and/or during transportation (P.Peerani, M.Galletta, Nuclear Engineering and Design 237 (2007) 94-99) Plutonium, I love you... detection of possible diversion of fuel elements from Castor containers out-of-core monitoring in NPP

P.Finocchiaro 5 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors our idea: granular, real time, automatic current monitoring method: video camera ensuring continuity of knowledge

P.Finocchiaro 6 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors  (0.025) ≈ 5330 b available energy 0.76 MeV no gamma rays 3 He n p 3H3H How? materials for thermal neutron conversion: 3 He perfect gas detector but... worldwide lack of 3 He

P.Finocchiaro 7 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors 6 Li 10 B 157 Gd 113 Cd  (0.025) ≈ 940 b  (0.025) ≈ 3840 b  (0.025) ≈ 240 kb  (0.025) ≈ 20 kb available E 4.78 MeV available E 2.79 MeV (and gamma rays) large available E but in form of gamma rays: difficult neutron identification materials for thermal neutron conversion: which one?

P.Finocchiaro 8 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors thermal neutrons Cross section ≈ 940 b detection of 3 H and/or 4 He 6 Li – natural abundance: 7% a 6 LiF converter captures a neutron......and produces 4 He ed 3 H which can be detected 4 He 7 Li 3H3H 6 Li n 2.05 MeV2.73 MeV physical process how?

P.Finocchiaro 9 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors 9cm 2 Si detector + 6 LiF(1.5µm) 3cm x 3cm Si 6 LiF neutrons difference between spectra not needed to reject gammas n/gamma ≈ He-free Lithium-based NEutron Detectors with removable converter gamma background AmBe neutron source 5E4 n/s thermal flux ≈ 4 n/s/cm 2

P.Finocchiaro 10 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors Si detector + 6 LiF: comparison with simulation semi-quantitative GEANT4 simulation: neutrons: thermal gamma: 60 keV gamma: 662 keV gamma: 1.2 MeV gamma: 4 MeV # alpha and tritium normalized to data # gamma manually scaled quite encouraging data-simulation agreement (surprising?)

P.Finocchiaro 11 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors 100% neutrons gamma background AlphaTritium ≈ neutrons PET castle Si + 6 LiF neutron source expected ≈ 4 cps measured 3.3 AmBe neutron source 1.6E6 n/s thermal flux ≈ 150 n/s/cm 2

P.Finocchiaro 12 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors added 2 gamma sources to test rejection (740 MBq) Si detector + 6 LiF optimal 6 LiF thickness 1.8µm

P.Finocchiaro 13 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors 2 converters: double efficiency Si detector + 6 LiF

P.Finocchiaro 14 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors Si detector + 6 LiF

P.Finocchiaro 15 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors Si detector + 6 LiF advice: no heavy material inside the PET moderator

P.Finocchiaro 16 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors collaboration with CERN Si detector + 6 LiF Si 6 Li foil 4 He 3H3H SiMon2: neutron beam monitor for flux normalization

P.Finocchiaro 17 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors BeaMon: neutron beam characterization 16-strip Si 6 Li foil forward-backward asymmetryXY distribution Si detector + 6 LiF collaboration with CERN

P.Finocchiaro 18 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors better efficiency (up to 50%?) 6 Li deposits over large area (A4) scintillators... features next steps

P.Finocchiaro 19 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors tritium  neutrons alpha + gamma tritium  neutrons Position Light neutrons good intrinsic efficiency position sensitive (Δx ≈ 1-2 mm) low cost many possible geometries and schemes RM2013A filed on with scintillator detectors

P.Finocchiaro 20 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors local data storage remote data storage Web real-time castor storage monitoring

P.Finocchiaro 21 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors real-time castor storage monitoring

P.Finocchiaro 22 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors possible applications

P.Finocchiaro 23 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF- ND) e.g.: University of Milan, inorganic stereochemistry Time-of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (ToF- ND) e.g.: University of Milan, inorganic stereochemistry Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis e.g.: Ancient Charm EU project secrets of Bronze Age sword unveiled Neutron Resonance Capture Analysis e.g.: Ancient Charm EU project secrets of Bronze Age sword unveiled Bragg Edge Transmission e.g.: S.Petriw, J.Dawidowski, J.Santisteban, Porosity effects on the neutron total cross section of graphite Journal of Nuclear Materials 396 (2010) Bragg Edge Transmission e.g.: S.Petriw, J.Dawidowski, J.Santisteban, Porosity effects on the neutron total cross section of graphite Journal of Nuclear Materials 396 (2010) Neutron Radiography e.g.: Institute of Atomic and Subatomic Physics - TU Wien Neutron Radiography e.g.: Institute of Atomic and Subatomic Physics - TU Wien neutronX-ray applications with neutron beams

P.Finocchiaro 24 Third European Energy Conference E2C 2013 Budapest October He-free low-cost neutron detectors compact neutron monitors?