Response of a prototype module of a neutron-multiplicity calorimeter

Abstract

The performance of a prototype module of a calorimeter for the measurement of the neutron multiplicity associated with reverse-kinematic heavy-ion reactions has been tested with 14 MeV neutrons. Its response was well reproduced by Monte Carlo (MC) calculations. Utilizing the experimental response, the detection of “groups” of monokinetic neutrons with known multiplicity has been simulated. These simulated results compare favourably with the MC calculations and show little sensitivity to the details of the response function at the lowest amplitudes, where possible noise could arise. A new neutron γ-ray discrimination technique has been successfully used to identify neutrons from 50 and 80 MeV/nucleon heavy-ion induced reactions at the Bevalac.