The $^{3}$He BF$_{3}$ Giant Barrel (HeBGB) Neutron Detector

TL;DR

The paper introduces the HeBGB neutron detector, which provides consistent neutron detection efficiency across a broad energy range, reducing systematic uncertainties in measuring $( abla,n)$ cross sections crucial for nuclear astrophysics and detector backgrounds.

Contribution

Development of the HeBGB neutron detector with near-constant efficiency to improve accuracy in $( abla,n)$ cross section measurements.

Findings

HeBGB achieves a detection efficiency of (7.5±1.2)% across 0.01-9 MeV.

Reduces systematic uncertainties in neutron detection for nuclear reactions.

Enhances the precision of $( abla,n)$ cross section data.

Abstract

$(\alpha,n)$ reactions play an important role in nuclear astrophysics and applications and are an important background source in neutrino and dark matter detectors. Measurements of total $(\alpha,n)$ cross sections employing direct neutron detection often have a considerable systematic uncertainty associated with the energy-dependent neutron detection efficiency and the unknown initial neutron energy distribution. The $^{3}{\rm He}\,{\rm BF}_{3}$ Giant Barrel (HeBGB) neutron detector was built at the Edwards Accelerator Laboratory at Ohio University to overcome this challenge. HeBGB offers a near-constant neutron detection efficiency of ($7.5\pm 1.2$) \% over the neutron energy range 0.01 MeV -- 9.00 MeV, removing a significant source of systematic uncertainty present in earlier $(\alpha,n)$ cross section measurements.