Measurement of internal conversion electrons from Gd neutron capture

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 705; pp. 36 - 41
• Main Authors: Kandlakunta, P., Cao, L.R., Mulligan, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 21.03.2013
• Subjects: Beams (radiation); Capture (nuclear); Detectors; Digitization; Gadolinium neutron absorption; Gamma-ray rejection; Integrated circuits; Internal conversion; Internal conversion electrons; Semiconductor; Semiconductors; Spectrometers; Gadolinium neutron absorption; Gamma-ray rejection; Semiconductor; Internal conversion electrons
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.077

Gadolinium (Gd) is a suitable material for neutron conversion because of its superior neutron absorption cross-section. However, the principal secondary particles that generate electron-hole pairs in a semiconductor detector after Gd neutron capture are low-energy internal conversion (IC) electrons. We measured the IC electron spectrum due to Gd neutron capture by using a thermal neutron beam and a digitizer-based multidetector spectroscopy. We also discussed the effective use of the IC electrons in the context of a twin-detector design and the associated gamma-ray rejection issues. Extensive simulations of the spectra of IC electrons and gamma rays agreed well with the experimental results; both types of results support the feasibility of the proposed n–γ separation method.