EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2020)
Application of fluorine-based threshold activation detector for neutron flux calculation from D-T neutron generator
Abstract
In this paper we propose a method of fast neutron flux estimation from a pulsed D-T neutron generator with application of single CaF2 scintillation crystal. The analysis method relies on 19F(n, α)16N threshold activation reaction having neutron energy threshold at 1.6 MeV. As a result, the 16N undergo β− decay with half-life of 7.1 s, emitting β particles with endpoint up to 10.4 MeV in the scintillator medium. Integration of the β distribution curve, preceded by calculation of (n, α) rate on F with Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport Code v6 (MCNP6) for fixed geometry, allows to estimate the neutron flux in 4π per second within few minutes.
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