Abstract
Untagged gamma-ray and tagged-neutron yields from 241AmBe and 238PuBe mixed-field sources have been measured. Gamma-ray spectroscopy measurements from 1 to 5MeV were performed in an open environment using a CeBr3 detector and the same experimental conditions for both sources. The shapes of the distributions are very similar and agree well with previous data. Tagged-neutron measurements from 2 to 6MeV were performed in a shielded environment using a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector for the neutrons and a YAP(Ce) detector to tag the 4.44MeVgamma-rays associated with the de-excitation of the first-excited state of 12C. Again, the same experimental conditions were used for both sources. The shapes of these distributions are also very similar and agree well with previous data, each other, and the ISO recommendation. Our 238PuBe source provides approximately 2.6 times more 4.44MeVgamma-rays and 2.4 times more neutrons over the tagged-neutron energy range, the latter in reasonable agreement with the original full-spectrum source-calibration measurements performed at the time of their acquisition.
Highlights
Actinide/Be-based radioactive sources are typically used for cost-effective fast-neutron irradations
Correlated gamma-ray pairs originating in the sources and detected one in the NE-213 detector and one in a YAP(Ce) detector provided a “gamma-flash”2
Determined from the location of the gamma-flash in the TOF spectra using the speed of light and measurements of the distances between the YAP(Ce) detector, the NE-213 detector, and the source
Summary
Actinide/Be-based radioactive sources are typically used for cost-effective fast-neutron irradations. Higher-energy gamma-rays are produced via the α + 9Be → n + 12C∗ reaction. If detected, these 4.44 MeV gamma-rays can be used to “tag” the corresponding neutrons [1], resulting in a polychromatic energy-tagged neutron beam. We employ the neutron-tagging technique to measure tagged, fast-neutron yields from 241AmBe and 238PuBe using a NE-213 liquid-scintillator detector. We measure the corresponding untagged gamma-ray yields using a Ceriumbromide (CeBr3) detector. Our goal was to measure the tagged-neutron yields provided by the two sources and indentify which provided the higher taggedneutron yield
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