The aCORN backscatter-suppressed beta spectrometer

• Published in: Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Vol. 867; no. C; pp. 51 - 57
• Main Authors: Hassan, M.T., Bateman, F., Collett, B., Darius, G., DeAngelis, C., Dewey, M.S., Jones, G.L., Komives, A., Laptev, A., Mendenhall, M.P., Nico, J.S., Noid, G., Stephenson, E.J., Stern, I., Trull, C., Wietfeldt, F.E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 21.09.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Conversion electrons; Electron backscatter; Electron spectroscopy; INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; Neutron decay; Scintillation detectors; Neutron decay; Electron spectroscopy; Scintillation detectors; Conversion electrons; Electron backscatter; neutron decay; electron spectroscopy; electron backscatter; scintillation detectors; conversion electrons
• ISSN: 0168-9002; 1872-9576
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nima.2017.05.029

Backscatter of electrons from a beta detector, with incomplete energy deposition, can lead to undesirable effects in many types of experiments. We present and discuss the design and operation of a backscatter-suppressed beta spectrometer that was developed as part of a program to measure the electron–antineutrino correlation coefficient in neutron beta decay (aCORN). An array of backscatter veto detectors surrounds a plastic scintillator beta energy detector. The spectrometer contains an axial magnetic field gradient, so electrons are efficiently admitted but have a low probability for escaping back through the entrance after backscattering. The design, construction, calibration, and performance of the spectrometer are discussed.