Some studies on fast neutron detectors: simulations and experiments

Abstract

Neutron detectors play an important role in areas like border security, nuclear medicine, nuclear power generation and nuclear decontamination. New sensitive materials sought the complexity of their detection. Inorganic and organic scintillator crystals are recognized as good substitutes in place of 3He, which has been preferred earlier. Inorganic fast neutron detectors such as CLYC (Cs2LiYCl6), LaBr3:Ce, LaCl3:Ce are not only used for gamma rays detection, but for neutron detection also. This dual performance provides the possibility to use them in the joint survey for neutron and gamma. Simulations are performed for the inorganic detector, and the resultant spectra are studied. The neutron energy spectrum is measured for CLYC and compared with the experimental results. Fast neutron detection using LaBr3:Ce is studied, and the seven neutron-induced peaks are shown. The response of the LaCl3:Ce detector for fast neutron is studied, and some neutron-induced gamma peaks emitted through the inelastic interaction with the detector are proposed. Experiments are performed to understand the effect of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) on gamma rays using the CeBr3 detector, and results are discussed. The lead block was used to stop the gamma rays coming from the 252Cf source, and the outgoing radiation, consisting of only neutrons, was detected by BC501A experimentally.