A neutron monitor for D-T neutron generator in the PGNAA-based online measurement system

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) Vol. 135; pp. 142 - 145
• Main Authors: Shan, Qing, Shengnan, Chu, Yongsheng, Ling, Pingkun, Cai, Wenbao, Jia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Cherenkov detector; Computer simulation; D-T neutron generator; Experiments; Fused silica; Gamma rays; Generators; Mathematical analysis; Monte Carlo simulation; Neutron counters; Neutron detector; Neutron flux; Neutrons; On-line systems; Plastic scintillator detector; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Sensors; Silicon dioxide; Neutron detector; Cherenkov detector; Plastic scintillator detector; D-T neutron generator
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2017.01.015

A new type of neutron detector, which consists of polyethylene, an EJ200 plastic scintillator and fused silica, was proposed and optimized by the GEANT4 Monte Carlo simulation toolkit in our previous studies. The calculation method was also described for calculating the neutron flux in the preset condition. This paper reports the manufacturing of the prototype detector. Experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility of this detector. A D–T neutron generator and a 60Co gamma-ray source are used in the experiments. The designed detector and a He-3 proportional counter are simultaneously used to monitor the yield of the D–T neutron generator. A more universal calculation method is developed to enable the application of this detector to common conditions. The experimental results show that the performance of the designed detector is comparable to that of the He-3 proportional counter. The relative deviations between their normalized counts are less than 5%. •A neutron detector is developed to monitor the yield of D-T neutron generator.•Experiments are conducted to validate the feasibility of this detector.•The universal formula is developed to calculate the neutron flux.•The results of the designed detector are compared to He-3 proportional counter.•The relative deviations between their normalized counts are less than 5%.