JINST Instrumentation Theses Archive

M.Sc. degree thesis
accepted by Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, in 2006

Ilan Mor

Supervisor: David Vartsky

Energy-resolved fast-neutron imaging via time resolved optical readout

 Keywords:

• PFNTS
• time-of-flight
• neutrons
• imaging

 Abstract:
The presently-described TRION system (Time Resolved Integrative Optical (readout for) Neutrons) is an efficient, large-area fast-neutron detector that incorporates the combined capabilities of sub-mm spatial imaging and Time-of-Flight spectrometry. It is also designed for loss-free operation in mixed, high-intensity neutron-gamma fields. Thus, it can be considered as a next-generation PFNTS detector, since it provides superior performance capabilities than previous detectors in all the important figures-of-merit.

The present work describes several rounds of development, construction and testing of the detector using accelerator-produced fast-neutron pulses (employing, among others, the 9Be(d,n) reaction using a deuteron beam, pulsed in ~1 ns bursts at 1-2 MHz repetition rate).

The central topic of this work dealt with the determination of the factors that govern the spatial and timing resolution of TRION. Specifically, these are: screen type, response of the optical system and the various sources of noise that the system is susceptible to.