溴化镧探测器在γ产生截面测量中的应用

Application of LaBr3 Detector in γ Production Cross Section Measurement

  • 摘要: γ产生截面在核数据与核结构研究中具有重要的意义,其截面数据可用于核反应堆和核装置设计和优化,γ分支比信息可用于完善能级纲图信息。在中国散裂中子源上建立了国内第一条白光中子束线,能提供0.3 eV~300 MeV的白光中子,可开展连续能区的γ产生截面测量。但伴生的γ-flash使得时间响应慢的γ探测器产生严重的信号堆积甚至饱和,急需发展具有快时间响应特性的探测器用于γ产生截面测量实验的需求。溴化镧探测器作为新兴的闪烁体探测器,具有时间分辨好、抗信号堆积性能强等特点,进行γ谱的在线实验测量时受束流情况影响较小,但存在本底复杂和分辨不及高纯锗探测器的问题。通过组建溴化镧和高纯锗探测器的联合测量阵列,可结合优点改进测量精度。本文结合实验测量与蒙特卡罗模拟,研究了适用于溴化镧探测器的γ谱分析方法。在中国原子能科学研究院HI-13串列加速器上搭建了溴化镧和高纯锗联合阵列,开展了6.24、7.95 MeV中子能量52Cr(n,n')反应和6.83 MeV中子能量209Bi(n,n')反应γ产生截面测量。溴化镧和高纯锗探测器测量结果与Mihailescu等的结果在误差范围内吻合,验证了溴化镧探测器在γ产生截面测量中的可行性与可靠性。未来可将本研究取得的实验方法和技术路线用于中国散裂中子源反角白光中子束线上的实验测量和数据分析。

     

    Abstract: With the further development of various nuclear engineering projects and nuclear physics theories, the demand for higher-precision nuclear data has significantly increased. The γ-ray production cross section plays a crucial role in nuclear data and structure studies, and the γ branching ratios contribute to refining nuclear level schemes. The first white neutron source beamline in China has been established on the China Spallation Neutron Source, which can provide white neutrons ranging from 0.3 eV to 300 MeV. It is an ideal environment for conducting γ production cross section measurement experiment. However, the accompanying γ-flash causes severe signal pile-up or even saturation in slow time response γ detectors such us HPGe, and there is an urgent need to develop fast time response detectors for γ production cross section measurement experiments. As an emerging scintillation detector, LaBr3 detector has good time resolution and strong anti-signal pile-up performance. They are less affected by beam conditions when conducting online γ spectrum experiments. But they have the problems like complex background and lower resolution than HPGe detectors. By setting up a hybrid measurement array of LaBr3 detector and HPGe detector, the advantages can be combined to improve the measurement accuracy. The γ spectrum analysis method applicable to LaBr3 through a combination of experimental measurement and Monte Carlo simulation was studied. The form of the fitting function in the energy spectrum of the LaBr3 was analyzed, and the relationship between the peak shape parameter δ and step height parameter Astep in the fitting function with the variation of γ ray energy was studied. The analysis method of overlapping peaks in the energy spectrum was explored, and the fitting results were compared with offline calibration results to verify reliability. A hybrid array of LaBr3 detector and HPGe detector was set up on the HI-13 tandem accelerator at the China Institute of Atomic Energy. The γ spectra of 52Cr(n, n') reaction at 6.24 MeV and 7.95 MeV neutron energies, and 209Bi(n, n') reaction at 6.83 MeV neutron energy were measured. Through the spectral analysis method of the previous research, the single and multiple peaks in the characteristic peaks of the target material in the experimental spectrum were identified and analyzed, and finally the γ ray production cross-section to the target nuclear material was obtained. The measurement results of the LaBr3 detector and HPGe detector are consistent with those of Mihailescu within the error range, verifying the feasibility and reliability of LaBr3 detector in γ production cross section measurement. In the future, relevant experience and spectral analysis technique can serve as a foundation for further experimental measurements and data analysis at China Spallation Neutron Source.

     

/

返回文章
返回