CYSP-BEAM: A multi-detector directional spectrometer for in-beam neutron spectrometry

Abstract

CYSP-BEAM is a directional neutron spectrometer formed by a thick polyethylene cylindrical collimator followed by a sensitive capsule that contains several active thermal neutron detectors located at different depths along the cylindrical axis. Due to a thick lateral shield made of polyethylene and borated rubber, only neutrons from the direction identified by the collimating aperture can reach the internal detectors. As the response function of the internal detectors tend to peak at increasing energies as the detector depth increases, the device has spectrometric properties. This type of moderated spectrometer, whose prototype was the CYSP (CYlindrical SPectrometer), is capable to combine the functionalities of Bonner Spheres in a single device, thus requiring only one exposure to measure all the energy components of the incident beam, from thermal up to GeV neutrons. The neutron spectrum is obtained via few-channel unfolding methods. With respect to the original CYSP, the new CYSP-BEAM device is optimized to operate in the direct intense beam of neutron producing installations, such as large scale neutron science facilities. Compared with CYSP, CYSP-BEAM has narrower collimating aperture and the internal detectors have sensibility a factor 100 lower. Its response matrix was simulated using MCNPX. This paper describes the new device focusing on the internal detectors, the response matrix and the test measurement performed using the 14 MeV beam produced at the ENEA Frascati Neutron Generator (FNG).