Response characterization for an EJ315 deuterated organic-liquid scintillation detector for neutron spectroscopy

Abstract

Organic liquid scintillation detectors have shown promise as neutron detectors for characterizing special nuclear materials in various arms-control applications. Deuterated liquids, such as EJ315, are attractive for spectroscopy applications because the backward-peaked n–d scattering results in enhanced coupling between incident neutron energy and resulting pulse height. This will likely allow better spectrum unfolding. In this work, we present a measured neutron response matrix for a three-by-two-in. cylindrical EJ315 detector, and compare to the hydrogen-based liquid EJ309 in an otherwise identical assembly. We also present measured light-output relations for both detectors. A continuous-spectrum neutron source, obtained with the bombardment of 11B with 5.5-MeV deuterons at the tandem Van de Graaff accelerator at the University of Notre Dame, was used for the measurement. Detected neutrons were sorted via time of flight into 100-keV energy groups, over the energy range from 0.5 to 15MeV. The resulting response matrix represents a detailed characterization of pulse-height response to neutrons over that energy range. To the authors' knowledge, a measured response matrix and light-output relation for EJ315 have not been reported, and published characterizations of the similar NE230 are of less detail over this energy range. Matrix-condition analysis indicates an advantage for EJ315 over EJ309 in the number of independent parameters available in inversion procedures.