Atomspheric neutron and gamma ray fluxes and energy spectra

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA084iA04p01402· OSTI ID:5989773

Lockwood, J A; Hsieh, L; Friling, L; Chen, C; Swartz, D

The energy spectra and fluxes of atmospheric neutrons and gamma rays from 8 to 60 MeV and from 2 to 10 MeV, respectively, have been measured with a time-of-flight (TOF) system using organic liquid scintillators at ballon altitudes (3--5 g/cm/sup 2/) over Palestine, Texas (lambda=42/sup 0/N). The TOF detector consisted of two banks of six cylindrical NE213 liquid scintillators, each being 7.5 cm in diameter by 7.5 cm long, separated by 0.75 m. A TOF system was used to measure upward and downward moving neutrons and gamma rays. Pulse shape discrimination is included on each NE213 scintillator to discriminate between neutrons and gamma rays. The measured neutron leakage current is 1.9 x 10/sup -3/ from 8< or =E/sub n/<18 MeV, 1.5 x 10/sup -3/ from 18< or =E/sub n/ < or =E/sub n/<30 MeV, and 9.5 x 10/sup -4/ neutron/cm/sup 2/ s MeV from 30< or =E/sub n/ < or =60 MeV. The total downward gamma ray flux from 2 to 6 MeV at 3.6 g cm/sup -2/ is given by 0.012E/sup -1.5/ photon/cm/sup 2/ s sr MeV. The upward moving gamma ray flux at 4 g cm/sup -2/ from 2 to 10 MeV is 0.063E/sup -1.8/ photon/cm/sup 2/ s sr Mev.

• Research Organization: Physics Department, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824
• OSTI ID: 5989773
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 84:A4; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640200* -- Atmospheric Physics
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BARYONS
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY RANGE
ENERGY SPECTRA
FERMIONS
GAMMA RADIATION
HADRONS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
MEV RANGE
NEUTRONS
NUCLEONS
RADIATIONS
SPECTRA
TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD