Alpha Background in Multi-Grid Neutron Detectors

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Backis, A., Lai, C. -C., Annand, J. R. M., Fissum, K. G., Zuzel, G., Czubak, M., Livingston, K.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Backis, A.
Lai, C. -C.
Annand, J. R. M.
Fissum, K. G.
Zuzel, G.
Czubak, M.
Livingston, K.
author_facet Backis, A.
Lai, C. -C.
Annand, J. R. M.
Fissum, K. G.
Zuzel, G.
Czubak, M.
Livingston, K.
contents Alpha emission from actinide impurities in Al is a source of background counting rate in Multi-Grid type detectors of thermal neutrons. The alpha emission rates from samples of radio-purity Al and \mathrm{Al/B_{4}C} composite, used in grid construction, were measured on a large-area, low background spectrometer. Although the alpha emission rate from the composite was a factor \sim280 higher than radio-pure Al, \mathrm{25\:μm} Ni plating of the composite reduced the rate by a factor \sim1170. Background counting rates in two Multi-Grid prototypes were compared. They used identical configurations of \mathrm{B_{4}C}-coated, radio-pure Al normal blades for the grids, but the first employed radio-purity Al for the radial blades, while the second used Ni-plated \mathrm{Al/B_{4}C} on the radial blades. The background rate from the second prototype was around 20% of that from the first.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2605_22230
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Alpha Background in Multi-Grid Neutron Detectors
Backis, A.
Lai, C. -C.
Annand, J. R. M.
Fissum, K. G.
Zuzel, G.
Czubak, M.
Livingston, K.
Instrumentation and Detectors
Alpha emission from actinide impurities in Al is a source of background counting rate in Multi-Grid type detectors of thermal neutrons. The alpha emission rates from samples of radio-purity Al and \mathrm{Al/B_{4}C} composite, used in grid construction, were measured on a large-area, low background spectrometer. Although the alpha emission rate from the composite was a factor \sim280 higher than radio-pure Al, \mathrm{25\:μm} Ni plating of the composite reduced the rate by a factor \sim1170. Background counting rates in two Multi-Grid prototypes were compared. They used identical configurations of \mathrm{B_{4}C}-coated, radio-pure Al normal blades for the grids, but the first employed radio-purity Al for the radial blades, while the second used Ni-plated \mathrm{Al/B_{4}C} on the radial blades. The background rate from the second prototype was around 20% of that from the first.
title Alpha Background in Multi-Grid Neutron Detectors
topic Instrumentation and Detectors
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.22230