Calculations of the Efficiency of Registration of Thermal Neutrons by Complex Converters Constructed on the Basis of Gadolinium Foils

TL;DR

This paper models the efficiency of thermal neutron registration using gadolinium-based converters, analyzing how angle and energy affect performance, and proposes a layered complex converter design for improved efficiency.

Contribution

It provides a detailed modeling of neutron registration efficiency for gadolinium converters, including layered complex structures and various neutron energies, which was not previously explored.

Findings

Efficiency approaches theoretical limits at small incident angles.

Layered gadolinium converters on kapton support enhance registration efficiency.

Efficiency varies with neutron energy and incident angle, with optimal configurations identified.

Abstract

We consider the results of modeling of the efficiency of registration of thermal neutrons by the converters, which are made from natural gadolinium and its 157 isotope foils. Efficiency for a case of falling of neutrons under various angles to a plane of converters is calculated. It is shown, that at small angles of falling of neutrons to a plane of converters it is possible to receive the efficiency of registration close to a theoretical limit. Efficiency of the complex converter made of kapton supporting film with gadolinium converters layered on both its sides is considered. All calculations are carried out for four fixed neutron energies, which correspond to the wavelengths of 1, 1.8, 3 and 4 $\AA$.