A multilayer surface detector for ultracold neutrons

Authors

Zhehui Wang, Los Alamos National Laboratory
M. A. Hoffbauer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. L. Morris, Los Alamos National Laboratory
N. B. Callahan, Indiana University Bloomington
E. R. Adamek, Indiana University Bloomington
J. D. Bacon, Los Alamos National Laboratory
M. Blatnik, Cleveland State University
A. E. Brandt, NC State University
L. J. Broussard, Los Alamos National Laboratory
S. M. Clayton, Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. Cude-Woods, NC State University
S. Currie, Los Alamos National Laboratory
E. B. Dees, NC State University
X. Ding, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
J. Gao, Los Alamos National Laboratory
F. E. Gray, Regis University
K. P. Hickerson, University of California, Los Angeles
A. T. Holley, Tennessee Technological University
T. M. Ito, Los Alamos National Laboratory
C. Y. Liu, Indiana University Bloomington
M. Makela, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. C. Ramsey, Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. W. Pattie, Los Alamos National Laboratory
D. J. Salvat, Los Alamos National Laboratory
A. Saunders, Los Alamos National Laboratory
D. W. Schmidt, Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. K. Schulze, Los Alamos National Laboratory
S. J. Seestrom, Los Alamos National Laboratory
E. I. Sharapov, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Dubna
A. Sprow, University of Kentucky
Z. Tang, Los Alamos National Laboratory
W. Wei, Los Alamos National Laboratory
J. Wexler, NC State University
T. L. Womack, Los Alamos National Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-31-2015

Abstract

A multilayer surface detector for ultracold neutrons (UCNs) is described. The top ¹⁰B layer is exposed to vacuum and directly captures UCNs. The ZnS:Ag layer beneath the ¹⁰B layer is a few microns thick, which is sufficient to detect the charged particles from the ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li neutron-capture reaction, while thin enough that ample light due to α and ⁷Li escapes for detection by photomultiplier tubes. A 100-nm thick ¹⁰B layer gives high UCN detection efficiency, as determined by the mean UCN kinetic energy, detector materials, and other parameters. Low background, including negligible sensitivity to ambient neutrons, has also been verified through pulse-shape analysis and comparison with other existing ³He and ¹⁰B detectors. This type of detector has been configured in different ways for UCN flux monitoring, development of UCN guides and neutron lifetime research.

Recommended Citation

Wang, Zhehui; Hoffbauer, M. A.; Morris, C. L.; Callahan, N. B.; Adamek, E. R.; Bacon, J. D.; Blatnik, M.; Brandt, A. E.; Broussard, L. J.; Clayton, S. M.; Cude-Woods, C.; Currie, S.; Dees, E. B.; Ding, X.; Gao, J.; Gray, F. E.; Hickerson, K. P.; Holley, A. T.; Ito, T. M.; Liu, C. Y.; Makela, M.; Ramsey, J. C.; Pattie, R. W.; Salvat, D. J.; Saunders, A.; Schmidt, D. W.; Schulze, R. K.; Seestrom, S. J.; Sharapov, E. I.; Sprow, A.; Tang, Z.; Wei, W.; Wexler, J.; and Womack, T. L., "A multilayer surface detector for ultracold neutrons" (2015). Regis University Faculty Publications (comprehensive list). 544.
https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/544