Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-26-2013
Abstract
A novel technique for β-delayed neutron spectroscopy has been demonstrated using trapped ions. The neutron-energy spectrum is reconstructed by measuring the time of flight of the nuclear recoil following neutron emission, thereby avoiding all the challenges associated with neutron detection, such as backgrounds from scattered neutrons and γ rays and complicated detector-response functions. I+137 ions delivered from a Cf252 source were confined in a linear Paul trap surrounded by radiation detectors, and the β-delayed neutron-energy spectrum and branching ratio were determined by detecting the β- and recoil ions in coincidence. Systematic effects were explored by determining the branching ratio three ways. Improvements to achieve higher detection efficiency, better energy resolution, and a lower neutron-energy threshold are proposed. © 2013 American Physical Society.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Physical Review Letters
Recommended Citation
Yee, R., Scielzo, N., Bertone, P., Buchinger, F., Caldwell, S., Clark, J., Deibel, C., Fallis, J., Greene, J., Gulick, S., Lascar, D., Levand, A., Li, G., Norman, E., Pedretti, M., Savard, G., Segel, R., Sharma, K., Sternberg, M., Van Schelt, J., & Zabransky, B. (2013). β-delayed neutron spectroscopy using trapped radioactive ions. Physical Review Letters, 110 (9) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.110.092501