Analysis of the LaCl3(Ce) scintillator response function to fast neutrons

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 1052; p. 168282
• Main Authors: Pankratenko, A.V., Kormilitsyn, T.M., Kashuck, Yu.A., Obudovsky, S.Yu, Fridrikhsen, D.S., Shevelev, A.E., Khilkevitch, E.M., Iliasova, M.V., Bakharev, N.N., Skrekel, O.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Neutronics; Plasma diagnostics; Scintillators; PSD; ADC; Scintillators; Plasma diagnostics; FoM; PMT; FWHM; Neutronics
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2023.168282

LaCl3(Ce) scintillator is a novel solution to the task of the fast neutron spectrometry applicable primarily for the nuclear fusion experiments. In the interest of proper neutron spectrum reconstruction, the detector response function has to be studied in detail. This work is focused on the detector response measurement and modelling under fast neutrons born in the 9Be(α, n)12C reaction at Ioffe Institute cyclotron. Comparative analysis of measured spectra versus model is done, the energy resolution and the p/β ratio are estimated for neutron energies of up to 8.5 MeV. The energy resolution is calculated to be 7–8% at 5–8 MeV. The p/β coefficient is estimated, growing from ∼0.75 at 2 MeV to ∼0.85 at 8.5 MeV. These results demonstrate the usability of the LaCl3(Ce) crystal as a neutron spectrometer at DD-neutron energies under γ-ray irradiation. At higher energies, due to low cross-sections and a multitude of possible reaction channels, the suitability of this crystal as a spectrometer is lowered. •LaCl3(Ce) is a scintillator capable of DD-neutron spectrometry.•Measured resolution is ∼7%, p/β∼0.7–0.8.•The detector performs worse at En>3 MeV.