Post Helium-3 Neutron Detection at BYU

ORAL

Abstract

Development of spectrometers for studying low flux neutrons mixed in a field of gamma and cosmic rays has continued at BYU since 1982. As $^{3}$He, the archetypal neutron detector medium, becomes scarcer, BYU and associates have been pursuing technologies that may serve as acceptable detectors, even for low energy fission neutrons. Presented will be 1) some technologies: typical $^{3}$He safeguard monitoring equipment, capture gating techniques, multi-pulse discrimination, and hybrid developments; 2) some tools: low room-return lab, LANL LANSCE time of flight, and fission spectroscopy; 3) and some lessons learned: PMT timing disparity, plastic non- linearity, and pulse fragmentation.

Authors

  • John E. Ellsworth

    • Laboratory Nuclear Astrophysics Research Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Bart Czirr

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
    • Brigham Young University
  • Lawrence Rees

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
    • Brigham Young University
  • Nathan Hogan

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Adam Wallace

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
    • Brigham Young University
  • Stephen Black

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Steven Gardiner

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
    • Brigham Young University
  • Brian James

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Suraj Bastola

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Nirdosh Chapagain

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy
  • Andrew Hoffman

    • BYU Nuclear Physics Group, Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy