Development of Miniature Fast Neutron Spectrometers

Abstract

Miniature fast neutron spectrometers are developed. A 1cm diam. by 1cm thick stilbene scintillator and a 1 cm radius spherical NE-213 are newly constructed and the detecting system, i.e. the response matrices, proton light data, an unfolding method, and a calibration method for the pulse-height axis, which are fitted to the new detectors are developed. Verification tests on the detecting system are made by applying the system in a ²⁵²Cf neutron field, a graphite transmitted neutron field, and a neutron field of an Am-Be source. The obtained spectra by the developed detectors are compared with the reference spectra obtained by an already established 5 cm diam. by 5 cm thick NE-213 scintillator. It is concluded through the tests that the developed miniature detector systems are adequate as a fast neutron spectrometer.