A HIGH RESOLUTION FLAT CRYSTAL SPECTROMETER FOR NEUTRON CAPTURE γ-RAY STUDIES

Abstract

A flat crystal diffraction spectrometer, constructed for the measurement of γ-rays resulting from neutron capture, is discussed both experimentally and theoretically. The spectrometer is used either as a single crystal or a double crystal instrument. In the single crystal arrangement a Laue diffracted γ-ray beam from a broad source proceeds through a Soller slit which gives it a 45-second angular divergence, to a sodium iodide scintillation detector. The energy is determined by the angle between the Soller slit and the crystal. The resolution is determined by the Soller slit, and is 4% at 1 Mev when diffracting from the (440) planes of a single germanium crystal. In the two-crystal configuration a γ-ray which is Laue diffracted from the first crystal is further diffracted from a second crystal set in the antiparallel position. The angle between the reflecting planes of the two crystals determines the γ-ray energy. The Soller slit serves only as shielding for the detector in this arrangement. The resolution depends upon the mosaics and thicknesses of the crystals; it is 0.4% at 1 Mev for diffraction from the (211) planes of two calcite crystals, each 23 mm thick and of 1.7- and 0.9-second mosaics respectively. The range of measurement extends from 80 kev to greater than 5 Mev. Where other values of γ-ray energies exist, agreement to within the expected precision, ± 0.2% is obtained. The counting efficiency as a function of energy depends on the integrated reflectivities of the crystals which may be determined at the time of a γ-ray measurement by means of the double crystal arrangement. The integrated reflectivity as a function of energy has been calculated for a number of crystals of known mosaic and throughout the range of measurement, from 0.2 to 5 Mev, good agreement is obtained.