Detection System Characteristics Using ²⁵²Cf Ionization Chambers

Conference · Mon May 21 04:00:00 EDT 1990

OSTI ID:6732383

Mihalczo, J. T. ^[1]; Hill, N. W. ^[1]; Blakeman, E. D. ^[1]; Pare, V. K. ^[1]

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1. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Because the number of neutrons and gamma rays and the energy spectrum of particles from spontaneous fission are well characterized for ²⁵²Cf, it can be used as a timed source of fission neutrons and gamma rays. The first such usage incorporated a ²⁵²Cf source into gas scintillators. This paper describes a timed source of neutrons and gamma rays made by depositing ²⁵²Cf on one electrode of a parallel plate ionization chamber that can then be used for determining detection-system characteristics. The emission time of neutrons from spontaneous fission has also been determined by recording the emission time of prompt gamma rays from a ²⁵²Cf source (not incorporated into a detector) adjacent to the surface of a solid or liquid scintillator. This well characterized source of neutrons can thus be used as a randomly pulsed source for a variety of applications. This paper illustrates the use of this type of source to determine the time resolution of detection systems, the efficiency for detection of neutrons between 0.5 and 5 MeV, the effectiveness of pulse shape discrimination systems, and the overall efficiency for detection of prompt fission gamma rays.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6732383
• Report Number(s): CONF-900563-9; ON: DE90011702
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

440101* -- Radiation Instrumentation-- General Detectors or Monitors & Radiometric Instruments
46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
CALIBRATION
CALIFORNIUM 252
CALIFORNIUM ISOTOPES
DECAY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
Energy Spectrum
FERMIONS
FISSION
Fission Neutrons
GAMMA RADIATION
Gamma Rays
HADRONS
HEAVY NUCLEI
IONIZATION CHAMBERS
IONIZING RADIATIONS
ISOTOPES
LIQUID SCINTILLATORS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NEUTRON SOURCES
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR DECAY
NUCLEAR REACTIONS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
Nuclear Criticality Safety Program (NCSP)
PARTICLE SOURCES
PHOSPHORS
Pulse Height Analyzers (PHA)
Pulse Shape Discrimination (PSD) Systems
RADIATION DETECTORS
RADIATION SOURCES
RADIATIONS
RADIOISOTOPES
RESOLUTION
SPONTANEOUS FISSION
Spontaneous Fission
TIME RESOLUTION
TIMING PROPERTIES
Time of Flight (TOF)
Time to Pulse Height Converters (TPHC)
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES