Characterization of a plutonium–beryllium neutron source

Design and commissioning of a neutron counter adapted to high-intensity laser matter interactions

“…To evaluate the neutron response of the prototype scintillator, we used a PuBe neutron source with a moderator. The full characteristics of this source have already been reported in Söderström et al 27 . This source produced 2.22×10 5 neutrons per second with a mean energy of 3.25 MeV and a maximum energy around 12 MeV.…”

“…One of the photomultiplier tubes is connected with a spring to the outside wall to keep a solid connection. distribution 27 . These evaluations consisted in determining the γ-ray response, neutron response, and digital electronic readout for feasibility to use within actual experimental conditions.…”

DEVELOPMENT OF AN MCNP MODEL OF A BORON-10 ZINC SULFIDE SILVER-ACTIVATED [ 10 B/ZnS(Ag)] DETECTOR AND DIRECTIONAL SHIELDING USING RADIATION COUNTING

“…Furthermore, as the source was moved towards the side of the detector, more neutrons passed through the borated polyethylene housing. The large amount of hydrogen in the polyethylene moderated the incident fast neutrons, which make up most of the neutron spectrum from PuBe sources [2]. This increased the likelihood that they would be absorbed in the detector's active layer due to 10 B having a higher absorption cross-section for thermal neutrons.…”

Development of a Science Demonstration Laboratory in National University of Singapore

“…Since then, this method of neutron generation by irradiating light elements such as beryllium, lithium, and fluorine with an intense alpha source has been incorporated into radioisotopic neutron sources used in nuclear laboratories throughout the world. The mechanism by which the neutrons are produced proceeds via an (α, n) reaction which requires a source of high energy alpha particles [2,26,27], such as the 9 Be(α, n) 12 C reaction in beryllium. In particular, polonium-210 has been frequently used as the alpha source for such applications due to its high alpha emission energy of 5.4 MeV [30,31], as well as a high specific activity of 4 kCi/g, which stems from its relatively low atomic mass and short half-life of 138 days [3].…”

“…To be suitable for sustaining neutron multiplication, the bismuth salt should contain a light element with high neutron yields from (α, n) reactions [7], e.g. 27 Al, 19 F, 10 B, 9 Be, as well as a high hydrogen content for neutron moderation, as the 209 Bi neutron capture cross section for 210 Po formation is greatly increased at thermal neutron velocities. Hence, bismuth beryllium acetate was used due to its high beryllium content, which is ideal for alpha-to-neutron conversion, as well as its intrinsic neutron multiplication and moderation properties.…”