First Measurements with New High-Resolution Gadolinium-GEM Neutron Detectors

TL;DR

This paper reports the first successful operation of a gadolinium-based GEM neutron detector achieving high spatial resolution and efficiency, suitable for advanced neutron detection in large-scale scientific instruments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel gadolinium-GEM detector with demonstrated high spatial resolution and efficiency, extending the TC analysis to gadolinium for the first time.

Findings

Achieved neutron detection efficiency of 11.8% at 2 AA wavelength.

Demonstrated position resolution better than 250 b5m.

Successfully operated a gadolinium-GEM detector in a neutron beam.

Abstract

European Spallation Source instruments like the macromolecular diffractometer, NMX, require an excellent neutron detection efficiency, high-rate capabilities, time resolution, and an unprecedented spatial resolution in the order of a few hundred micrometers over a wide angular range of the incoming neutrons. For these instruments solid converters in combination with Micro Pattern Gaseous Detectors (MPGDs) are a promising option. A GEM detector with gadolinium converter was tested on a cold neutron beam at the IFE research reactor in Norway. The {\mu}TPC analysis, proven to improve the spatial resolution in the case of $^{10}$B converters, is extended to gadolinium based detectors. For the first time, a Gd-GEM was successfully operated to detect neutrons with a measured efficiency of 11.8% at a wavelength of 2 {\AA} and a position resolution better than 250 {\mu}m.