Nondestructive technique for identifying nuclides using neutron resonance transmission analysis at CSNS Back-n

Nondestructive and noninvasive neutron assays are essential applications of neutron techniques.Neutron resonance transmission analysis(NRTA)is a powerful nondestructive method for investigating the elemental composition of an object.The back-streaming neutron line(Back-n)is a newly built time-of-flight facility at the China Spallation Neutron Source(CSNS)that provides neutrons in the eV to 300 MeV range.A feasibility study of the NRTA method for nuclide identification was conducted at the CSNS Back-n via two test experiments.The results demonstrate that it is feasible to identify different elements and isotopes in samples using the NRTA method at Back-n.This study reveals its potential future applications.

Simulation method for measurement of the cross-section of the^(14)N(n,a)^(11)B reaction using a gridded ionization chamber

A simulation method for measurement of the cross-section of the^(14)N(n,a)^(11)B reaction with gas and solid samples using a gridded ionization chamber(GIC)has been established.Using the simulation,the experimental spectra of both^(14)N(n,a)^(11)B events and background from other reactions can be predicted,and the experimental scheme can be optimized.According to the simulation results,the optimal experimental parameters,including the pressure of the working gas and the compositions of the working gas and the sample,can be determined.In addition,the simulation results can be used to determine the valid event area and calculate the detection efficiency for valid events.A measurement of the cross-sections of the^(14)N(n,a)^(11)B reaction at E_(n)=4.25,4.50,4.75,5.00,5.25,and 5.50 MeV,based on the 4.5-MV Van de Graff accelerator at Peking University(PKU)using a GIC as the detector for the outgoing a particles,has been performed.The good agreement of the spectra from the simulation and experiment demonstrated the universality of this simulation method,which can be used to accurately measure neutroninduced light-charged particle emission reactions.

In-beam gamma rays of CSNS Back-n characterized by black resonance filter

The back-streaming white-neutron beamline(Back-n)of the China Spallation Neutron Source is an essential neutronresearch platform built for the study of nuclear data,neutron physics,and neutron applications.Many types of cross-sectional neutron-reaction measurements have been performed at Back-n since early 2018.These measurements have shown that a significant number of gamma rays can be transmitted to the experimental stations of Back-n along with the neutron beam.These gamma rays,commonly referred to as in-beam gamma rays,can induce a non-negligible experimental background in neutron-reaction measurements.Studying the characteristics of in-beam gamma rays is important for understanding the experimental background.However,measuring in-beam gamma rays is challenging because most gamma-ray detectors are sensitive to neutrons;thus,discriminating between neutron-induced signals and those from in-beam gamma rays is difficult.In this study,we propose the use of the black resonance filter method and a CeBr_(3) scintillation detector to measure the characteristics of the in-beam gamma rays of Back-n.Four types of black resonance filters,^(181)Ta,^(59)Co,^(nat)Ag,and^(nat)Cd,were used in this measurement.The time-of-flight(TOF)technique was used to select the detector signals remaining in the absorption region of the TOF spectra,which were mainly induced by in-beam gamma rays.The energy distribution and flux of the in-beam gamma rays of Back-n were determined by analyzing the deposited energy spectra of the CeBr_(3) scintillation detector and using Monte Carlo simulations.Based on the results of this study,the background contributions from in-beam gamma rays in neutron-reaction measurements at Back-n can be reasonably evaluated,which is beneficial for enhancing both the experimental methodology and data analysis.