CNR ExploRA

Rapporto di progetto (Project report), 2018, ENG

Time resolved neutron yield detector for SPIDER

McCormack O.; Giacomelli L.; Nocente M.; Rebai M.; Perelli Cippo E.; Grosso G.; Croci G.; Tardocchi M.; Pasqualotto R.; Muraro A.; Gorini G.

Consorzio RFX (CNR, ENEA, INFN, Università di Padova, Acciaierie Venete SpA), Corso Stati Uniti 4 - 35127 Padova, Italy et al.

Two scintillator neutron yield detectors have been tested and characterized for installation on the SPIDER beam test facility in Padova, Italy. SPIDER is a part of the facility designed to create a full scale 1 MV neutral beam injector prototype for direct application to ITER. SPIDER will produce 2.45 MeV neutrons via D-D reactions of the Dbeam impinging on the deuterium already embedded in the beam dump. The scintillator detectors will be used to provide an independent measurement of the global neutron yield produced. These detectors are comprised of a new plastic scintillator EJ276, capable of discriminating between neutron and gamma radiation, coupled with a photomultiplier tube. Tests to determine the stability, functionality, and accuracy of the device, as well as energy scale calibration and diagnostic firmware validation were performed in a laboratory setting using two gamma sources (Co60 and Cs137) and an LED. The detectors are found to have acceptable stability and energy resolution, and the firmware has been validated. Some final gamma source measurements are required, along with neutron/gamma measurements for confirming the pulse shape discrimination functionality. These further tests, as well as installation on SPIDER are expected to be completed in early 2019.