A preliminary design of a neutron spectrometer based on the double coincidence technique is proposed to perform the measurement of low- and intermediate-energy distributions of neutrons ranging from about 30 keV up to 3 MeV with a high energy resolution throughout the whole range of measurement and a reasonable detection efficiency. Since based on a double coincidence technique, the proposed spectrometer is completely insensitive to the unwanted gamma field component that often mixes the neutron field. Also, the measured energy distribution does not need any unfolding to recover the incident neutron energy distribution, avoiding thus large additional uncertainties inherent to the experimental spectra unfolding methods being involved. Only straightforward efficiency and energy resolution calibrations are needed, and the neutron energy spectra are readily obtained through direct experimental measurements. The basic principle of the spectrometer is presented here and its expected performance are outlined together with specification of the source preparation requirements. A Monte Carlo program is currently being written to assess the spectrometer performances and its design optimization, obtaining a preliminary estimation of the spectrometer parameters such as neutron response, energy resolution, energy-dependent neutron efficiency, energy and efficiency calibration methods.
A High Resolution-, Double Coincidence- (HRDC) neutron spectrometer for low- and intermediate- neutron energy transparent to gamma field environments
MAZED, DAHMANE;CIOLINI, RICCARDO;
2012-01-01
Abstract
A preliminary design of a neutron spectrometer based on the double coincidence technique is proposed to perform the measurement of low- and intermediate-energy distributions of neutrons ranging from about 30 keV up to 3 MeV with a high energy resolution throughout the whole range of measurement and a reasonable detection efficiency. Since based on a double coincidence technique, the proposed spectrometer is completely insensitive to the unwanted gamma field component that often mixes the neutron field. Also, the measured energy distribution does not need any unfolding to recover the incident neutron energy distribution, avoiding thus large additional uncertainties inherent to the experimental spectra unfolding methods being involved. Only straightforward efficiency and energy resolution calibrations are needed, and the neutron energy spectra are readily obtained through direct experimental measurements. The basic principle of the spectrometer is presented here and its expected performance are outlined together with specification of the source preparation requirements. A Monte Carlo program is currently being written to assess the spectrometer performances and its design optimization, obtaining a preliminary estimation of the spectrometer parameters such as neutron response, energy resolution, energy-dependent neutron efficiency, energy and efficiency calibration methods.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
