Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-11-2016
Abstract
The Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE) is a new, highly efficient plastic-scintillator array constructed for decay and transfer reaction experimental setups that require neutron detection. The versatile and modular design allows for customizable experimental setups including beta-delayed neutron spectroscopy and (d,n) transfer reactions in normal and inverse kinematics. The neutron energy and prompt-photon discrimination is determined through the time of flight technique. Fully digital data acquisition electronics and integrated triggering logic enables some VANDLE modules to achieve an intrinsic efficiency over 70% for 300-keV neutrons, measured through two different methods. A custom GEANT4 simulation models aspects of the detector array and the experimental setups to determine efficiency and detector response. A low detection threshold, due to the trigger logic and digitizing data acquisition, allowed us to measure the light-yield response curve from elastically scattered carbon nuclei inside the scintillating plastic from incident neutrons with kinetic energies below 2 MeV.
Publication Source (Journal or Book title)
Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment
First Page
122
Last Page
133
Recommended Citation
Peters, W., Ilyushkin, S., Madurga, M., Matei, C., Paulauskas, S., Grzywacz, R., Bardayan, D., Brune, C., Allen, J., Allen, J., Bergstrom, Z., Blackmon, J., Brewer, N., Cizewski, J., Copp, P., Howard, M., Ikeyama, R., Kozub, R., Manning, B., Massey, T., Matos, M., Merino, E., O'Malley, P., Raiola, F., Reingold, C., Sarazin, F., Spassova, I., Taylor, S., & Walter, D. (2016). Performance of the Versatile Array of Neutron Detectors at Low Energy (VANDLE). Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment, 836, 122-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2016.08.054