FAST-NEUTRON FLUX IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JZ068i019p05487· OSTI ID:4629899

Mendell, R B; Korff, S A

A fast-neutron detector was carried by balloon up to 27 4 km. The detector consisted of an inner liquid scintillator, employing pulse-shape discrimination, and a thin 4 pi phosphor shield for rejection of charged particles. Both scintillators were viewed by a single photomultiplier. The counting rates produced by neutrons in two energy intervals between 1 and 10 Mev were recorded. The best fit to a power law spectrum was (E) dE = 2.6E/sup -1.16 plus or minus 0.2/ exp(-0.0069x) dE neutrons/cm/sup 2/ sec Mev in the equilibrium region. The counting rate rose to a broad maximum at about 75 g/cm/sup 2/, where the total flux of neutrons between 1 and 10 Mev was 1.9 neutrons/cm/sup 2/ sec. The flux at floating altitude was 1.4 neutrons/cm/sup 2/ sec. The results are compared with those of Newkirk and of Hess. (auth)

• Research Organization: New York Univ., New York
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-037911
• OSTI ID: 4629899
• Journal Information: Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.), Journal Name: Journal of Geophysical Research (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 68; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

ATMOSPHERE
BALLOONS
COINCIDENCE METHODS
COSMIC RADIATION
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY
ENERGY RANGE
FAST NEUTRONS
LEVELS
LIQUIDS
MEASURED VALUES
MEV RANGE
NEUTRON DETECTION
NEUTRON FLUX
PHOTOMULTIPLIERS
PHYSICS
PULSE ANALYZERS
PULSES
SCINTILLATION COUNTERS
STRATOSPHERE
VARIATIONS