2022/09/23 by Héctor René Vega-Carrillo, Vega-Carrillo, Hector Rene
Physics and Astronomy · Engineering · Health Professions · #Nuclear Physics and Applications #Nuclear reactor physics and engineering #Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
paper · doi:10.48779/46p9-7236
A Monte Carlo study was realized to use a gamma-ray spectrometer with a 3” ;£ 3” NaI(Tl) detector, with a moderator sphere, to measure the neutron fluence rate. Materials with a large amount of hydrogen are able to slowdown and thermalize neutrons; once thermalized there is a probability of neutron capture in moderator nuclei. When the neutron is captured by hydrogen a 2.22 MeV prompt gamma-ray is emitted. The photons pulse-height spectrum shows a photopeak around 2.22 MeV whose net area is proportional to total neutron fluence rate. The characteristics of this system were determined by a Monte Carlo study using the MCNP 4C code; a model of the NaI(Tl) was utilized, the study includes water and polyethylene as moderators with 3, 5, and 10 inches-diameter spheres that were bombarded with neutrons emitted by a polyenergetic 239PuBe. With the best sphere the study was extended to determine the response to monoenergetic neutron sources. Calculations were carried out to obtain realistic gamma-rays pulse height spectra, where the 2.22 MeV is observed. In polyethylene spheres the 4.43 MeV photon is also shown due to 12C(n, n’ °)12C reaction.