Registration of thermal neutrons using two-detector module based on silicon detectors and metallic gadolinium

TL;DR

This paper presents a method for registering thermal neutrons using a two-detector module with silicon detectors and a gadolinium converter, enabling background subtraction and simultaneous measurements.

Contribution

It introduces a novel two-detector setup with gadolinium converters for thermal neutron detection and background subtraction capabilities.

Findings

Successful registration of thermal neutrons using the proposed module

Ability to subtract background gamma radiation from measurements

Simultaneous measurement with two detectors enhances accuracy

Abstract

The thermal neutrons were registered using a two-detector module based on two planar Si detectors: with a neutron converter from natural metallic Gd and without a converter. To obtain thermal neutrons we used a 239Pu-Be({\alpha},n) fast neutron source with a paraffin moderator. The measurements were carried out simultaneously by two detectors by processing two channels of registration with a special computer program. In experiments gamma radiation was not suppressed. The conversion electrons of the nuclear reaction Gd(n,{\gamma}e)Gd were registered. We performed the registration of thermal neutrons with the possibility of subtraction for background radiation.