https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/202328603007
A design study of a 1-m2 Multi-Wire-Proportional-Chamber Position-Sensitive-Neutron-Detector (MWPC-PSND)
1 Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, WPE & TKA, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany
2 European Spallation Source ERIC (ESS), Detector Group, 22100 Lund, Sweden
3 Fondazione Bruno Kessler, Sensors & Devices Centre, 38123 Trento, Italy
* Corresponding author: Gregor.Nowak@hereon.de
Published online: 9 October 2023
Neutron detection by MWPC based on 10B4C coatings can surpass in performance the one utilising 3He-gas in terms of position resolution and count rate capability at similar detection efficiency [13]. The use of m2-size foils coated by 10B4C demands the development of a mechanical concept to avoid deformations of the neutron sensitive surface due to their own weight and the electrostatic forces resulting from high voltage for operation. To preserve a flat shape of the converter, a pressure gradient is applied between its both sides [4]. The design shall allow a stacking of detection modules consisting of sequenced elements [converter/x-y-multi-wire planes/converter] in few mm proximity. A multiple stacking of the detector modules is needed to accumulate a sufficient high detection efficiency for diffraction with thermal neutrons over the entire detector [2]. The MWPC is planned to have fifteen detection modules corresponding to an efficiency equivalent of 30 converters coated with 1.2 µm of 10B4C. Efficiency simulations of a converter coating thickness-profile from 0.6 µm up to 1.2 µm prognoses a conversion rate up to 50 % for thermal neutrons and the presented design parameters of the 1-m2 MWPC allow a position resolution of 2 mm.
© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2023
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
