Proposal of thermal neutron flux monitors based on vibrating wire

TL;DR

This paper proposes two innovative thermal neutron flux monitors utilizing vibrating wire technology, enhancing spatial resolution and measurement precision through neutron interaction and resonant target methods.

Contribution

Introduction of two novel neutron monitor designs based on vibrating wire, incorporating gadolinium layers and differential signals for improved accuracy and spatial resolution.

Findings

Neutron interaction with vibrating wire causes measurable frequency shifts.

Gadolinium layer enhances heat deposition during neutron scattering.

Differential signal analysis provides beam profile gradient.

Abstract

Two types of neutron monitors with fine spatial resolution are proposed based on vibrating wire. In the first type, neutrons interact with the vibrating wire, heat it, and lead to the change of natural frequency, which can be precisely measured. To increase the heat deposition during the neutron scattering, use of gadolinium layer which has the highest thermal neutron capture cross section among all elements is proposed. The second type of the monitor uses vibrating wire as a resonant target. Besides the measurement of beam profile according to the average signal, the differential signal synchronized with the wire oscillations defines the gradient of beam profile. Spatial resolution of the monitor is defined by the diameter of the wire.