Abstract
A new neutron detector based on a recoil proton and a microchannel plate (MCP) has been developed for the measurement of ultrafast pulse neutrons. In order to know the performance of the detector, the neutron sensitivity was investigated through simulation and experiment. A model of Monte Carlo simulation was set up for neutron sensitivity simulation. In this model, the yields and average energy of protons emitted from polyethylene targets of different thicknesses were calculated as a function of neutron energy. Then, the yields of secondary electrons produced by the recoil protons in the microchannel of the MCP were also calculated. The neutron sensitivity of the detector was finally obtained. The results show that the detector can achieve a neutron sensitivity of more than 10−15 C cm2 if the neutron energy is greater than 1 MeV. Experiments were performed to test the neutron sensitivity on the accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. The simulated results agreed with those of the experiments considering the uncertainties. The theoretical model of the detector for the calculation of the neutron sensitivity was correct. The performance of the detector accorded with the anticipative purpose.
Highlights
When a picosecond electron beam shoots at the metal target, the nanosecond and sub-nanosecond pulse neutrons are produced because of the photonuclear reaction.1,2 In order to measure the ultrafast pulse neutrons exactly, one new neutron detector based on a recoil proton and a microchannel plate (MCP) has been developed
The preliminary analysis suggests that this is due to the higher neutron energy, the recoil proton emitted from the thinner polyethylene target has a high average energy, and its distance traveled in the MCP is far, resulting in the actual number of secondary electrons generated more than that in the theoretical calculation
The neutron sensitivity of the MCP ultrafast neutron detector based on the recoil proton is studied in depth
Summary
When a picosecond electron beam shoots at the metal target, the nanosecond and sub-nanosecond pulse neutrons are produced because of the photonuclear reaction. In order to measure the ultrafast pulse neutrons exactly, one new neutron detector based on a recoil proton and a microchannel plate (MCP) has been developed. In order to measure the ultrafast pulse neutrons exactly, one new neutron detector based on a recoil proton and a microchannel plate (MCP) has been developed. In this detector, the polyethylene target is used as the neutron converter, which produces the protons through the neutrons colliding with the hydrogen nuclei elastically in polyethylene. When the protons enter the microchannels of the MCP, some secondary electrons are produced, which can multiply the electrons by accelerating the electric field in the MCP. If these electrons are recorded, the neutron measurement can be achieved. The theoretical and experimental results of the neutron sensitivity have been obtained, which can offer crucial basic data for improving the performance and the actual application of the detector
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