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Neutron Classification and Detection

Neutrons are classified into slow and fast categories based on their kinetic energy, with slow neutrons having energies up to 1000 eV and fast neutrons ranging from 0.5 to 10 MeV. Detection methods for neutrons differ from traditional ionization-based methods, utilizing indirect processes such as boron detectors for slow neutrons and proton-recoil detectors for fast neutrons. Slow neutron detection involves boron trifluoride gas, while fast neutron detection relies on the ionization produced by recoiling protons in hydrogenous materials.

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58 views6 pages

Neutron Classification and Detection

Neutrons are classified into slow and fast categories based on their kinetic energy, with slow neutrons having energies up to 1000 eV and fast neutrons ranging from 0.5 to 10 MeV. Detection methods for neutrons differ from traditional ionization-based methods, utilizing indirect processes such as boron detectors for slow neutrons and proton-recoil detectors for fast neutrons. Slow neutron detection involves boron trifluoride gas, while fast neutron detection relies on the ionization produced by recoiling protons in hydrogenous materials.

Uploaded by

Belwin Edward
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© All Rights Reserved
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Neutrons

Classification & Detection


Classification of Neutrons
Neutrons arc classified according to their kinetic energy.
1. Slow neutrons.
• Neutrons with eV energies from zero to about 1000 are usually included in this category.
• Slow neutrons which are in thermal equilibrium with the medium through which they pass are called
thermal neutrons.
• They exhibit a Maxwellian distribution of energy characteristic of the temperature of the medium.

2. Fast neutrons.
• Neutrons with energies having range between 0.5 to 10 MeV are called fast neutrons.
• When neutrons pass through a material, they are slowed down by collisions with the nuclei of the
material and lose a part of their energy.
• For light nuclei the loss is large and neutrons are slowed down quickly.
• Materials rich in hydrogen are very efficient in slowing neutrons and are known as moderators.
• Cadmium has the property of absorbing neutrons and is known as absorber.
Neutron energy range names

Maxwellian distribution of energy


characteristic
Neutron Detection
• Neutrons are uncharged particles and therefore
produce negligible ionisation in passing through
matter.
• They cannot be detected by G.M. counters or
ionisation chambers or similar other devices which are
based on detection by ionization.
• Detectors used for neutrons use some indirect process
in which neutrons produce charged particles.
• Also, fission may be utilized for detection of neutrons
by placing fissionable material inside an ionization
chamber and observing the ionization generated by
the fission fragments.
Neutron Detection
1. Slow neutron detection-Boron detectors.
• The neutrons are directed into a chamber filled with boron trifluoride
gas. Alternatively, the walls of the chamber are lined with a
compound of boron.
• The boron nucleus absorbs the neutrons and emits -particles which
can be counted. The detection process is based on the reaction

• The cross-section for the above reaction follows the l/v law and falls
off with increasing energy.
• Hence these counters are useful for slow neutrons.
• Ionisation chambers with boron coated electrodes or proportional
counters filled with boron trifluoride vapour (enriched in B10) are in
common use.
Neutron Detection
2. Fast neutron detection-Proton-recoil detector.
• This method is based on the observation of ionisation
produced by the recoiling protons in the elastic
scattering of neutrons by hydrogenous materials.
• For this purpose, a proportional counter is filled with
argon and a thin sheet of a hydrogenous material such
as paraffin is placed at one end of the chamber.
• Fast neutrons striking the target (paraffin) cause the
ejection of protons.
• The protons produce ionisation in their paths through
the counter and so can be detected.

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