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Title: Measured neutron and gamma spectra from californium-252 in a tissue-equivalent medium

Journal Article · · Med. Phys.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5893230

A method of experimentally obtaining both neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium is described. The method utilizes a liquid-organic scintillator (NE-213) coupled with a pulse-shape discrimination circuit. This allows the separation of the neutron-induced pulse-height data from the gamma-ray pulse-height data. Using mathematical unfolding techniques, the two sets of pulse-height data were transformed to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray energy spectra. A small spherical detector was designed and constructed to reduce the errors incurred by attempting spectral measurements in a scattering medium. Demonstration of the utility of the system to obtain the neutron and gamma-ray spectra in a scattering medium was performed by characterizing the neutron and gamma-ray spectra at various sites about a 3.7-..mu..g (1.5 cm active length) californium-252 source in a tissue-equivalent medium.

Research Organization:
Departments of Radiology and Nuclear Engineering University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
OSTI ID:
5893230
Journal Information:
Med. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 6:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English