Design and commissioning of the miniBELEN neutron counter for the study of (alpha ,n) reactions

The miniBELEN detector is a moderated neutron counter based on the use of 3He tubes and high-density polyethylene as moderator. The detector has been designed to have a neutron detection efficiency that is nearly independent from the initial neutron energy for (alpha, n) reactions with alpha-particl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Mont i Geli, Nil|||0000-0003-4249-7281, Tarifeño Saldivia, Ariel Esteban|||0000-0001-8552-5030, Pallás Solís, Max, Perea Martínez, Ángel, Fraile, Luis Mario, Cortés Rossell, Guillem Pere|||0000-0002-3648-5826, Soler Miras, Daniel, Calviño Tavares, Francisco|||0000-0002-7198-4639, Blas del Hoyo, Alfredo de|||0000-0002-0868-9514, García Sánchez, Roger|||0000-0001-7435-9436
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2026
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:dnet:upcommonspor::6ad7fcdb29c9ed66d5ecbd3971e74fb0
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/462470
https://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-026-07523-w
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Experimental nuclear physics
Neutron diffraction
Nuclear chemistry
Nuclear and particle physics
Nuclear astrophysics
Nuclear physics
Neutron detection technologies and applications
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia nuclear
Descripción
Sumario:The miniBELEN detector is a moderated neutron counter based on the use of 3He tubes and high-density polyethylene as moderator. The detector has been designed to have a neutron detection efficiency that is nearly independent from the initial neutron energy for (alpha, n) reactions with alpha-particle energies up to 15 MeV. In order to achieve that an innovative design methodology based on the use of cadmium neutron filters has been used. Monte Carlo calculations of the detector response have been validated using a 252Cf fission source. Measurements of the relatively well-known (alpha, n) thick target yields on aluminum have been found to be consistent with data from previous works. A method has been developed to correlate the counting rate ring ratios with the mean neutron energy and validated using previous time-of-flight measurements of the aluminum (alpha, n) spectra and with a 252Cf fission source.