Comparison of Neutron Detection Efficiency of a He-3 Counter and a Boron-10 Loaded Liquid Scintillator

Author

Swiderski, Lukasz ; Moszynski, Marek ; Wolski, Dariusz ; Iwanowska, Joanna ; Szczesniak, Tomasz ; Pausch, Guntram ; Plettner, Cristina ; Stein, Juergen ; Schotanus, Paul ; Hurlbut, Chuck ; Szabelski, Jacek

Author_Institution

Soltan Inst. for Nucl. Studies, Otwock-Swierk, Poland

Volume

57

Issue

5

fYear

2010

Firstpage

2857

Lastpage

2861

Abstract

Performance of a He-3 counter and a B-10 loaded liquid scintillator EJ309B5 has been studied in terms of neutron detection efficiency. The measurements were carried out in a mixed field of neutron and gamma radiation from an intense ( ~ 10⁶ neutrons/s/4π)²⁵²Cf source. The response of both detectors to background and high intensity gamma radiation ( ~ 100 μSv/h at a detector) from a ⁶⁰Co source has been measured to establish background count rate and gamma rays cut-off point, respectively. The analysis showed that the properties of a He-3 counter are significantly better than that of EJ309B5. However, it has been pointed out how to improve the performance of a liquid scintillator in order to reduce gamma radiation sensitivity.

Keywords

helium-3 counters; liquid scintillation detectors; neutron detection; ⁶⁰Co source; Boron-10 loaded liquid scintillator; EJ309B5 liquid scintillator; He-3 counter; background count rate; gamma radiation; gamma radiation sensitivity; gamma ray cut-off point; intense ²⁵²Cf source; neutron detection efficiency; neutron radiation; Detectors; Electron tubes; Energy measurement; Neutrons; Radiation detectors; Scattering; Sensitivity; B-10 loaded liquid scintillator; EJ309B5; He-3 counter; detection efficiency; neutrons;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TNS.2010.2064790

Filename

5603461