Study of Pulse Shape Discrimination of Sub-MeV Neutrons From Gamma-Rays with Liquid Scintillator

Abstract

We have studied pulse shape discrimination of sub-MeV neutron from spallation nuclear reactions. Neutron measurements were carried out with a 2-inch NE213 scintillator viewed by a phototube (HAMAMATSU H1949) for the carbon-carbon reaction at 290 MeV/n. Neuron energies were measured with the TOF technique by using a timing pick-up plastic scintillator. Output signals of detectors were digitized and stored with a digitizer (Acqiris DC282). The digital pulse shape discrimination (DPSD) has been investigated through comparison between three different analyzing algorithms. Effects on the neutron-gamma (n/g) discrimination were also investigated after the subtraction of background and abnormal events. Moreover, in order to realize better n/g discrimination the detector system was cooled down to about zero degrees centigrade by Peltier devices to suppress the dark current of the phototube which would be the main cause distorting pulse shapes. Experimental studies were made in terms of the temperature dependence of detector performance including pulse shape.