Calculation of response functions for cylindrical nested neutron spectrometer

In a recent work, a new neutron spectrometer, namely Cylindrical Nested Neutron Spectrometer (CNNS). It works under the same principles as a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS), except that different amounts of moderator around a thermal neutron detector are configured by adding or removing cylindrical shells. The CNNS consists of a 4mm x 4mm 6LiI(Eu) scintillator crystal and nested cylindrical polyethylenemoderators. The objective of this paper is describing the use of MCNPX code for determining a optimal ratio between height and diameter of the moderators in order to remain isotropic angular response to neutrons like BSS and determining of response functions for moderators of different diameters at 104 energy points from 0.001 eV to 19.95 MeV.

NEUTRON SPECTRUM UNFOLDING USING VARIOUS COMPUTER CODES: A COMPARISON

Dosimetric quantities at various distances from a 30 cm diameter polyethylene sphere moderated 241Am-Be source were investigated using the Bonner sphere spectrometer system. The different international commercial unfolding codes were applied to unfold the neutron spectrum, and their shapes were compared to each other. Additionally, the integrated neutron fluence rates overall spectrum and fractional neutron fluence rates were deduced and compared between the results obtained from different unfolding codes. As an important quantity applying in radiation safety assessment, the neutron ambient dose equivalent rates were also calculated and compared to each other to verify the utility feasibilities of the codes.

Deconvolution methods used for the development of a neutron spectrometer

To fulfill the requirements of the industry, the feasibility of a transportable neutron spectrometer is under study by our collaboration. Preliminary studies have led to a solution based on a unique-multi-detectors-Bonner sphere, which has the advantage to simultaneously perform many neutrons-measurements through thermal neutron detectors placed at different depths inside a polyethylene sphere. The incident neutron energy is then reconstructed using unfolding methods. The optimization of the layout of the detectors in the sphere and of the diameter of the sphere was performed thanks to GEANT4 simulations, coupled to unfolding methods such as least-squares, maximum of entropy or maximum of likelihood. Different unfolding methods have been tested. For the time being, the best unfolding results were obtained by the computer codes M.A.X.E.D. and G.R.A.V.E.L., formalized by the Nuclear Energy Agency (N.E.A.). A “personal” method based on the maximum of entropy coupled to the maximum of likelihood gives good results as well, but a few convergence parameters have still to be optimized. In the present paper, a solution of a multi-detectors-Bonner sphere is presented as well as results of unfolded neutron energy spectra. The results obtained show a good agreement with unmoderated and moderated Am/Be and 252Cf spectra.