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.