A novel fast neutron detector for nuclear data measurements

Abstract

Accelerator driven system will use a heavy element target such as lead. Many calculations are available to simulate high-energy spallation neutron induced reactions, but little data are available for comparison with the simulations. In order to constrain the simulation tools we have measured (n,Xn) double differential cross section on different targets at The Svedberg Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden. For neutron energy above 40 MeV, we have developed a novel detector, CLODIA, based on proton recoil and drift chambers to determine neutron energy. CLODIA (Chamber for LOcalization with DrIft and Amplification) is able to track recoil protons with energy up to 90 MeV with spatial resolution of about one millimeter and a detection efficiency of 99% for each drift chamber. Using CLODIA coupled with the SCANDAL set-up, we have been able to measure double differential (n,Xn) cross section on lead and iron for incident neutron energy in the 40-95 MeV energy region.