A PROTON RECOIL NEUTRON SPECTROMETER UTILIZING A SEMICONDUCTOR RADIATION DETECTOR. Final Report
A proton recoil neutron spectrometer utilizing a thin hydrogenous radiator and a semiconductor detector has been built and evaluated. The essential features of the instrument are shown and described. The proton energy spectrum emitted from the radiation is observed by the detector and low noise amplifier system and displayed by a multichannel analyzer. Two low noise amplifiers have been designed and constructed. The first is a Nuvistor hybrid amplifier with a noise level equivalent to 4 kev FWHM. The second is a fully transistorized cascade amaplifier with a FWHM in the range of 8 kev. The proton recoil instrument has been evaiuated and found to have an upper energy cut off due to the (n,p) reaction in silicon above 6 Mev. The iower limit is set by the hydrogenous radiator and the noise level of the detector-amplifier system and the entrance window of the detector. A theoretical study based on an empirical slowing down relationship for protons was developed in order to predict the detailed response of the system having a range of radiator thicknesses and geometries. A graphic solution is presented which is applicable to poor geometry or large angle cases as well as thick radiator foils. Experimental observations using a d-d neutron source yielded proton energy distributions in substantial quantitative agreement with the cal culations. A strong gamma background has been shown to affect the resolution of the instrument. A gamma level of 100r/ min produces at least a fivefold increase in the FWHM. (auth)
- Research Organization:
- Solid State Radiations, Inc., Los Angeles
- DOE Contract Number:
- DA-49-186-ORD-1013
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-003308
- OSTI ID:
- 4755119
- Report Number(s):
- NP-12226
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 31-DEC-63
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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