DAEMON - Detector Array for Energy Measurement Of Neutrons

DAEMON - 用于中子能量测量的探测器阵列

• 批准号: SAPEQ-2021-00007
• 负责人: Garrett, Paul
• 金额: $ 2.19万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Subatomic Physics Envelope - Research Tools and Instruments
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=742543
• 关键词: DAEMON; Detector; Array; Energy; Measurement

Measurements of spectrum of neutrons following beta-decay provides information for both nuclear structure, has impacts on calculations for the abundance of heavy elements in the Universe, and also for practical applications such as reactor fuel cycles. Measurement of the energies of fast neutrons are typically performed by measuring their time of flight. Such measurements, however, pose significant challenges, and there is always a balance between detection efficiency, which would be optimized through the use of thick detectors, and energy resolution, optimized through the use of thin detectors. We propose to construct an array of plastic scintillators, the Detector Array for Energy Measurement Of Neutrons (DAEMON), to be used in conjunction with the GRIFFIN gamma-ray spectrometer at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility to enable high-resolution measurements of the neutrons following beta-decay of neutron-rich species. This scintillator array will be composed of plastic bars that, in their initial configuration, will be shaped to fit within the DESCANT neutron detector - a semi-spherical shell of detectors that occupy approximately 25% of the solid angle. The scintillation light produced from the neutron interactions in the plastic will be detected with Si photomultiplier arrays that will be read out via commercially available application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). The new array will provide a capability that does not currently exist at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility enabling high-resolution energy measurements of the neutrons via time of flight, while simultaneously, with DESCANT, providing a high efficiency device for tagging on the neutrons, coupled with the powerful GRIFFIN spectrometer that provides unsurpassed gamma-ray detection efficiency. This will open new avenues of research at TRIUMF-ISAC and will provide a strong enhancement of the research program performed by the broader Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy collaboration. We further envision strong international collaborations to be developed as a result of this new capability.

对β衰变后中子能谱的测量提供了有关核结构的信息，对宇宙中重元素丰度的计算有影响，也可用于反应堆燃料循环等实际应用。测量快中子的能量通常是通过测量它们的飞行时间来进行的。然而，这种测量带来了巨大的挑战，在通过使用厚探测器优化的探测效率和通过使用薄探测器优化的能量分辨率之间总是存在平衡。我们建议建造一个塑料闪烁体阵列，即用于中子能量测量的探测器阵列，与TRIUMF-ISAC设施的Griffin伽马射线能谱仪一起使用，以实现对富含中子物种的β衰变后的中子的高分辨率测量。这个闪烁体阵列将由塑料棒组成，在它们的初始配置中，将被塑造成适合下降中子探测器的形状--探测器的半球形外壳，占据大约25%的立体角。塑料中的中子相互作用产生的闪烁光将用硅光电倍增管阵列检测，该阵列将通过商业上可用的专用集成电路(ASIC)读出。新的阵列将提供TRIUMF-ISAC设施目前不存在的能力，使之能够通过飞行时间对中子进行高分辨率能量测量，同时，与DRANANT一起，提供对中子进行标记的高效设备，以及提供无与伦比的伽马射线探测效率的强大的格里芬能谱仪。这将为TRIUMF-ISAC开辟新的研究途径，并将有力地加强由更广泛的伽马能谱合作开展的研究计划。我们进一步设想，由于这一新能力，将开展强有力的国际合作。