CR-39 track detector signatures of slow neutron like signals in Heavy-water electrolysis

TL;DR

This study demonstrates the detection of slow neutron-like signals during heavy-water electrolysis using boron-coated CR-39 detectors, revealing a dependence on magnetic fields and deuterated conditions, with implications for neutron research.

Contribution

The paper introduces a validated experimental protocol for detecting low flux slow neutrons in electrochemical systems involving deuterium, highlighting a magnetic field dependence of the signals.

Findings

Significant excess of slow neutron-like signals in D2O electrolysis with magnetic field.

Reduction of signals when magnetic field is removed.

No detectable signals in H2O electrolysis under similar conditions.

Abstract

We report reproducible track-detector signals consistent with slow neutron capture events, recorded in D$_2$O electrolysis involving D-Pd deposited on Pt cathode. Sensitivity to slow neutrons was achieved using boron-coated CR-39 (BCR) detectors, which register charged particle tracks arising from the $^{10}$B$(n,\alpha)^{7}$Li reaction. These detectors were positioned adjacent to identically prepared uncoated CR-39 control detectors (CCR), which are effectively insensitive to slow neutrons and serve to quantify background contributions from charged particles and fast neutrons under the present experimental conditions. A reproducible differential detector signature (BCR $>$ CCR) would thus indicative of slow neutron fluences. Across multiple independent D$_2$O electrolysis experiments in $0.25~\mathrm{T}$ field, the BCR exhibited significantly excess track signals relative to CCRs. Under these conditions, the observed differential response corresponds to an inferred detector-equivalent slow neutron flux of approximately $(6.7 \pm 0.2)~\mathrm{cm^{-2},s^{-1}}$. Removal of the magnetic field resulted in a reduction of the differential signal by a factor of $\sim6$, indicating a strong empirical dependence on the applied field. In contrast, H$_2$O electrolysis performed under otherwise identical conditions produced no measurable differential detector response, establishing the necessity of deuterated electrochemical conditions for the observed effect. The results are reported strictly as detector signatures consistent with slow neutron capture and do not assert any theoretical explanation. Instead, this work establishes a control verified and detector validated experimental protocol for detecting low flux slow neutrons, and provides empirical constraints relevant to slow neutron studies in experiments involving metal-deuteride systems.