Boron-Loaded Liquid Scintillation Neutron Detectors

Abstract

The general problems involved in constructing boron-loaded liquid scintillation neutron detectors are considered. The characteristics of particular counters which have been successfully used in neutron transmission measurements by the time-of-flight method are then described. The design of these counters was guided by the results of a Monte Carlo study of neutron capture in a boron-poisoned medium. This calculation gives the probability of neutron capture as a function of neutron energy, counter thickness, and time. The calculated results are compared with experimentally determined efficiencies. The advantages and problems encountered in using the boron-loaded liquid scintillator with the Argonne fast neutron chopper are discussed.