The Multi-Blade Boron-10-based neutron detector for high intensity neutron reflectometry at ESS

Abstract

The Multi-Blade is a Boron-10-based gaseous detector introduced to face the challenge arising in neutron reflectometry at pulsed neutron sources. Neutron reflectometers are the most challenging instruments in terms of instantaneous counting rate and spatial resolution. This detector has been designed to cope with the requirements set for the reflectometers at the upcoming European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. Based on previous results obtained at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in France, an improved demonstrator has been built at ESS and tested at the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) in Hungary and at the Source Testing Facility (STF) at the Lund University in Sweden. A detailed description of the detector and the results of the tests are discussed in this manuscript.

The Multi-Blade Boron-10-based neutron detector performance using a focusing reflectometer

“…In average each detector pixel records several counts per second, see figure 8, the operation regime for both the Multi-Blade and the He-3-based AMOR detector is below any saturation either due to electronics limitations or physical detector limitations. Indeed, the actual limits of the Helium-3 technology is around hundreds Hz/mm 2 [23], and the Multi-Blade detector is expected to achieve the order of kHz/mm 2 [2]. Therefore, in this configuration, the total rate is recorded by the detector and it can be used for the comparison with the local instantaneous peak rate measurement.…”

“…The proof of concept for this detector technology has been primarily demonstrated with a first test of a prototype at the ILL in 2013 [1]. A detailed characterization [2] of a Multi-Blade detector has been carried out at the Budapest Neutron Centre [35][36][37] in 2015. In 2017 a reflectometry demonstrator has been installed and tested at the neutron reflectometer CRISP [38] at the ISIS neutron and muon source in the UK [39][40][41] performing a full detector characterization along with specular and offspecular reflectivity measurements on several samples [3,4].…”

“…In 2017 a reflectometry demonstrator has been installed and tested at the neutron reflectometer CRISP [38] at the ISIS neutron and muon source in the UK [39][40][41] performing a full detector characterization along with specular and offspecular reflectivity measurements on several samples [3,4]. Moreover, background studies, in particular the response of this detector to fast neutrons [42] and gamma-rays [2], have been carried out at the Source Testing Facility (STF [43,44]) at the Lund University in Sweden. In 2018, a Multi-Blade demonstrator has been installed at the AMOR reflectometer at PSI to test the capabilities of the detector in an environment as close as possible to the future Estia instrument.…”

A Possibility of Detecting Fast Neutrons in a 10B Solid-gas Detector

“…Recently, new position-sensitive neutron detectors (PSNDs) with solid layers containing 10 B have been created. They are hybrid detectors [1][2][3], which contain 10 B layer used as a converter of neutron into charged particles which are detected in a gas-discharge chamber. The advantage of such detectors to detectors with helium-3 is an ability to operate in a wide range of neutron energies.…”

Optical Observation of Single Neutron Detection

“…The planned ESS instrument suite challenges the state of the art of the position sensitive neutron detection by requesting detectors able to sustain count rates which may reach the MHz range [1] (a 3 He proportional counter can sustain up to 150 kHz [2]) at a finer spatial resolution (from the micrometric range to some mm) over relatively large areas (up to tens of m 2 ). Current scientific CMOS camera sensors, considerably more robust and cheaper than ECCD, have reached sensitivities of the order of a few photons.…”