Ph.d. degree
Università degli Studi di Perugia Italy, 2019

Giacomo Mauri

Supervisor: Francesco Piscitelli, Francesco Sacchetti, Alessandro Paciaroni

Development and characterization of detectors for large area application in neutron scattering and small area application in neutron reflectometry

Keywords:

• Gaseous detectors
• Solid state detectors
• Neutron detectors (cold, thermal, fast neutrons)
• Data reduction methods

Abstract:

Neutron scattering techniques offer a unique combination of structural and the dynamic information of atomic and molecular systems over a wide range of distances and times. The increasing complexity in science investigations driven by technological advances is reflected in the studies of neutron scattering science, which enforces a diversification and an improvement of experimental tools, from the instrument design to the detector performance. It calls as well for more advanced data analysis and modelling. The improvements in resolution, count rate and signal-to-background ratio, achievable with the new instrumentations, also drive the research of alternative technologies to replace the 3He-based detector technology unable to fulfil the requirement of increasing performance. Two solution have been studied: a boron-10-based gaseous detector, the Multi-Blade and a solid-state Si-Gd detector. Both solutions are suitable alternatives for neutron detection, able to meet the demands of high performance. It has been shown not only the technical characteristic of the devices, but how the science can profit from the better performance of these new detector technologies in real experimental condition.