Testing of Scintillation Detectors in Quasi-Monoenergetic Neutron Spectra in a Silicon Filtered Neutron Beam at the LVR-15 Research Reactor

Abstract

With increasing needs of neutron detection in energy and homeland security sectors, there is an aim in the development of new suitable detection materials with possible n/g separation and also satisfactory resolution. This issue is connected with a well-defined neutron field. The neutron standards 252Cf(spontaneous fission) and 235U(nth fission) have smooth spectra; thus, the tests in these fields can be used for testing of neutron gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD), but cannot reveal possible problems in the deconvolution. New neutron field which is formed from fission spectrum filtered by 1 m thick silicon block was developed in Research Center Rez. Due to the course of the silicon cross section, the well-distinguished neutron peaks occur in filtered neutron spectrum. In this field, various scintillation materials, HIDEX Aqualight, and EJ299-33A were tested.