DIRECTIONAL DETECTION OF FISSION-SPECTRUM NEUTRONS.

Conference · Fri May 04 04:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:909964

VANIER, P E

Conventional neutron detectors consisting of {sup 3}He tubes surrounded by a plastic moderator can be quite efficient in detecting fission spectrum neutrons, but do not indicate the direction of the incident radiation. We have developed a new directional detector based on double proton recoil in two separated planes of plastic scintillators. This method allows the spectrum of the neutrons to be measured by a combination of peak amplitude in the first plane and time of flight to the second plane. It also allows the determination of the angle of scattering in the first plane. If the planes are position-sensitive detectors, then the direction of the scattered neutron is known, and the direction of the incident neutron can be determined to lie on a cone of s fixed angle. The superposition of many such cones generates an image that indicates the presence of a localized source. Typical background neutron fluences from the interaction of cosmic rays with the atmosphere are low and fairly uniformly distributed in angle. Directional detection helps to locate a manmade source in the presence of natural background. Monte Carlo simulations are compared with experimental results.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Laboratory
• Sponsoring Organization: Doe - National Nuclear Security Administration
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-98CH10886
• OSTI ID: 909964
• Report Number(s): BNL--77959-2007-CP; NN2001030
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
AMPLITUDES
CONES
DETECTION
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES
FISSION
MODERATORS
NEUTRON DETECTORS
NEUTRON FLUENCE
NEUTRONS
PLASTIC SCINTILLATORS
PLASTICS
PROTONS
SCATTERING