A sealed ceramic GEM-based neutron detector

TL;DR

This paper introduces a sealed ceramic GEM-based neutron detector developed at CSNS, demonstrating stable long-term performance and capabilities in neutron detection, imaging, and spectrum measurement.

Contribution

The paper presents the first sealed ceramic GEM-based neutron detector with stable long-term operation and comprehensive characterization for neutron beam measurement.

Findings

Stable long-term performance in sealed mode

Good spatial resolution (FWHM: 2.77 mm)

Effective neutron detection and imaging

Abstract

The GEM-based neutron detector has flourished in the past decade. However almost all the GEM-based neutron detectors work in the flow-gas mode, and the long-term performances of the detectors may be unstable due to the dynamic changes of atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature. In this paper, a sealed ceramic GEM-based neutron detector was developed at China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) and its sensitive area was 100 mm * 100 mm. The characterizations of the detector were presented and discussed, which included the plateau curve, the neutron beam profile, the neutron wavelength spectrum, the spatial resolution (FWHM: 2.77 mm), the two-dimensional (2D) imaging ability, the neutron detection efficiency and the counting rate instability (Relative Standard Deviation (RSD): 0.7%). The results show that the detector has good performances in sealed mode, and it can be used for the measurement of the direct neutron beam at CSNS.