| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Anastasopoulos, M., et al.
(författare)
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Multi-Grid detector for neutron spectroscopy : Results obtained on time-of-flight spectrometer CNCS
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 12:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Grid detector technology has evolved from the proof-of-principle and characterisation stages. Here we report on the performance of the Multi-Grid detector, the MG.CNCS prototype, which has been installed and tested at the Cold Neutron Chopper Spectrometer, CNCS at SNS. This has allowed a side-by-side comparison to the performance of 3He detectors on an operational instrument. The demonstrator has an active area of 0.2 m2. It is specifically tailored to the specifications of CNCS. The detector was installed in June 2016 and has operated since then, collecting neutron scattering data in parallel to the He-3 detectors of CNCS. In this paper, we present a comprehensive analysis of this data, in particular on instrument energy resolution, rate capability, background and relative efficiency. Stability, gamma-ray and fast neutron sensitivity have also been investigated. The effect of scattering in the detector components has been measured and provides input to comparison for Monte Carlo simulations. All data is presented in comparison to that measured by the 3He detectors simultaneously, showing that all features recorded by one detector are also recorded by the other. The energy resolution matches closely. We find that the Multi-Grid is able to match the data collected by 3He, and see an indication of a considerable advantage in the count rate capability. Based on these results, we are confident that the Multi-Grid detector will be capable of producing high quality scientific data on chopper spectrometers utilising the unprecedented neutron flux of the ESS.
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| 3. |
- Mauri, G., et al.
(författare)
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Neutron reflectometry with the Multi-Blade B-10-based detector
- 2018
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Ingår i: Proceedings of the Royal Society. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 1364-5021 .- 1471-2946. ; 474:2216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Blade is a boron-10-based gaseous detector developed for neutron reflectometry instruments at the European Spallation Source in Sweden. The main challenges for neutron reflectometry detectors are the instantaneous counting rate and spatial resolution. The Multi-Blade has been tested on the CRISP reflectometer at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source in the UK. A campaign of scientific measurements has been performed to study the Multi-Blade response in real instrumental conditions. The results of these tests are discussed in this paper.
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| 4. |
- Piscitelli, F., et al.
(författare)
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Characterization of the Multi-Blade 10B-based detector at the CRISP reflectometer at ISIS for neutron reflectometry at ESS
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 13:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Blade is a Boron-10-based gaseous thermal neutron detector developed to face the challenge arising in neutron reflectometry at neutron sources. Neutron reflectometers are challenging instruments in terms of instantaneous counting rate and spatial resolution. This detector has been designed according to the requirements given by the reflectometers at the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. The Multi-Blade has been installed and tested on the CRISP reflectometer at the ISIS neutron and muon source in U.K.. The results on the detailed detector characterization are discussed in this manuscript.
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| 5. |
- Piscitelli, Francesco, et al.
(författare)
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Neutron reflectometry on highly absorbing films and its application to (B4C)-B-10-based neutron detectors
- 2016
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Ingår i: Royal Society of London. Proceedings A. Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences. - : The Royal Society. - 1364-5021 .- 1471-2946. ; 472:2185
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Neutron reflectometry is a powerful tool used for studies of surfaces and interfaces. The absorption in the typical studied materials is neglected and this technique is limited only to the reflectivity measurement. For strongly absorbing nuclei, the absorption can be directly measured by using the neutron-induced fluorescence technique which exploits the prompt particle emission of absorbing isotopes. This technique is emerging from soft matter and biology where highly absorbing nuclei, in very small quantities, are used as a label for buried layers. Nowadays, the importance of absorbing layers is rapidly increasing, partially because of their application in neutron detection; a field that has become more active also due to the He-3-shortage. We extend the neutron-induced fluorescence technique to the study of layers of highly absorbing materials, in particular (B4C)-B-10. The theory of neutron reflectometry is a commonly studied topic; however, when a strong absorption is present the subtle relationship between the reflection and the absorption of neutrons is not widely known. The theory for a general stack of absorbing layers has been developed and compared to measurements. We also report on the requirements that a (B4C)-B-10 layer must fulfil in order to be employed as a converter in neutron detection.
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| 6. |
- Andersen, Ken, et al.
(författare)
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B-10 multi-grid proportional gas counters for large area thermal neutron detectors
- 2013
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Ingår i: Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research. Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors, and Associated Equipment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0167-5087 .- 0168-9002 .- 1872-9576. ; 720, s. 116-121
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- He-3 was a popular material in neutrons detectors until its availability dropped drastically in 2008. The development of techniques based on alternative convertors is now of high priority for neutron research institutes. Thin films of B-10 or (B4C)-B-10 have been used in gas proportional counters to detect neutrons, but until now, only for small or medium sensitive area. We present here the multi-grid design, introduced at the ILL and developed in collaboration with ESS for LAN (large area neutron) detectors. Typically thirty (B4C)-B-10 films of 1 mu m thickness are used to convert neutrons into ionizing particles which are subsequently detected in a proportional gas counter. The principle and the fabrication of the multi-grid are described and some preliminary results obtained with a prototype of 200 cm x 8 cm are reported; a detection efficiency of 48% has been measured at 2.5 angstrom with a monochromatic neutron beam line, showing the good potential of this new technique. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Birch, Jens, et al.
(författare)
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(B4C)-B-10 Multi-Grid as an Alternative to He-3 for Large Area Neutron Detectors
- 2013
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Ingår i: IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science. - 0018-9499 .- 1558-1578. ; 60:2, s. 871-878
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite its present shortage, He-3 continues to be the most common neutron converter for detectors in neutron scattering science. However, it is obvious that the development of large area neutron detectors based on alternative neutron converters is rapidly becoming a matter of urgency. In the technique presented here, grids each comprising 28 (B4C)-B-10 layers ( each 1 mu m thick) are used to convert neutrons into ionizing particles which are subsequently detected in proportional gas counters. The total active area of the prototype is 8 cm x 200 cm. To instrument this detector 4.6 m(2) of B-10-enriched boron carbide were coated onto aluminium blades using a DC magnetron sputtering machine. Characterization of the prototype showed neutron efficiency to be epsilon(n) = 46.8% for 2.5 angstrom neutrons, which is in line with expectations from MC simulation. This result demonstrates the potential of this technique as alternative to He-3-based position sensitive detectors.
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| 9. |
- Birch, Jens, et al.
(författare)
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In-beam test of the Boron-10 Multi-Grid neutron detector at the IN6 time-of-flight spectrometer at the ILL
- 2014
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Ingår i: INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON NEUTRON OPTICS AND DETECTORS (NOPandD 2013). - : IOP Publishing: Conference Series / Institute of Physics (IoP).
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- A neutron detector concept based on solid layers of boron carbide enriched in 1 B has been in development for the last few years as an alternative for He-3 by collaboration between the ILL, ESS and Linkoping University. This Multi-Grid detector uses layers of aluminum substrates coated with (B4C)-B-10 on both sides that are traversed by the incoming neutrons. Detection is achieved using a gas counter readout principle. By segmenting the substrate and using multiple anode wires, the detector is made inherently position sensitive. This development is aimed primarily at neutron scattering instruments with large detector areas, such as time-of-flight chopper spectrometers. The most recent prototype has been built to be interchangeable with the He-3 detectors of IN6 at ILL. The 1 B detector has an active area of 32 x 48 cm(2). It was installed at the IN6 instrument and operated for several weeks, collecting data in parallel with the regularly scheduled experiments, thus providing the first side-by-side comparison with the conventional He-3 detectors. Results include an efficiency comparison, assessment of the in-detector scattering contribution, sensitivity to gamma-rays and the signal-to-noise ratio in time-of-flight spectra. The good expected performance has been confirmed with the exception of an unexpected background count rate. This has been identified as natural alpha activity in aluminum. New convertor substrates are under study to eliminate this source of background.
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| 10. |
- Birch, J, et al.
(författare)
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Investigation of background in large-area neutron detectors due to alpha emission from impurities in aluminium
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Thermal neutron detector based on films of (B4C)-B-10 have been developed as an alternative to He-3 detectors. In particular, The Multi-Grid detector concept is considered for future large area detectors for ESS and ILL instruments. An excellent signal-to-background ratio is essential to attain expected scientific results. Aluminium is the most natural material for the mechanical structure of of the Multi-Grid detector and other similar concepts due to its mechanical and neutronic properties. Due to natural concentration of alpha emitters, however, the background from alpha particles misidentified as neutrons can be unacceptably high. We present our experience operating a detector prototype affected by this issue. Monte Carlo simulations have been used to confirm the background as alpha particles. The issues have been addressed in the more recent implementations of the Multi-Grid detector by the use of purified aluminium as well as Ni-plating of standard aluminium. The result is the reduction in background by two orders of magnitude. A new large-area prototype has been built incorporating these modifications.
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| 11. |
- Birch, J., et al.
(författare)
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Multi-Grid boron-10 detector for time-of-flight spectrometers in neutron scattering science
- 2015
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Ingår i: 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 9781467398626
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Grid (MG) detector has been introduced at ILL and developed by a collaboration between ILL, ESS and Linkoping University. This detector design addresses the severely decreased availability of He3, in particular for neutron scattering instruments with large-area detectors, such as time-of-flight neutron spectrometers at ESS and other facilities. The MG detector is based on thin converter films of boron-10 carbide arranged in layers orthogonal to the incoming neutrons. The design of the detector provides position resolution, efficiency competitive with He3 and a strong gamma rejection capability. This paper presents the MG large-area (2.4m2) demonstrator and the progress made in order to meet the needs of production of B4C-coated layers, mechanical parts and assembly on a scale similar to that of the final detectors for ESS. A particular effort was made to produce aluminium detector parts with a low alpha background, successfully reducing the background rate to acceptable levels. Following the IN5 demonstrator, a compact prototype has been designed in order to finalise the electronic readout to be used at the ESS instruments equipped with the MG.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Khaplanov, Anton, et al.
(författare)
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Investigation of gamma-ray sensitivity of neutron detectors based on thin converter films
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 8
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Currently, many detector technologies for thermal neutron detection are in development in order to lower the demand for the rare He-3 gas. Gas detectors with solid thin film neutron converters readout by gas proportional counter method have been proposed as an appropriate choice for applications where large area coverage is necessary. In this paper, we investigate the probability for gamma-rays to generate a false count in a neutron measurement. Simulated results are compared to measurement with B-10 thin film prototypes and a He-3 detector. It is demonstrated that equal gamma-ray rejection to that of He-3 tubes is achieved with the new technology. The arguments and results presented here are also applicable to gas detectors with converters other than solid B-10 layers, such as Li-6 layers and (BF3)-B-10 gas.
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| 14. |
- Khaplanov, A., et al.
(författare)
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Neutron beam monitors for the European spallation source
- 2015
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Ingår i: 2015 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2015. - : Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). - 9781467398626
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European Spallation Source (ESS), currently under construction in Lund, Sweden, will house a suite of 16 user instruments for neutron scattering experiments. The spallation source of the ESS will emit relatively long, 2.8 ms, neutron pulses with an integrated flux that will greatly exceed that of current facilities. This leads to both large advancements in instrument performance as well as to increased length and complexity of the beam delivery systems. The instruments will each be equipped with neutron beam monitors used for data normalisation and analysis, as well as commissioning and diagnostics. In this paper we present the requirements for beam monitors for the ESS and the strategy to meet these in a standardised approach. A large range of specifications in efficiency, dynamic range, time and position resolution, compatible materials are needed. A new feature for neutron beam monitors for some locations, is the ability to measure time profile of each source pulse individually. In general, event mode readout will be used for monitors, similarly to other neutron detectors at the facility. A selection of detectors based on different technologies will be available. Monitors will be integrated with beam lines and choppers in a way that allows to freely choose the type of monitor based on final requirements of an instrument. For this end, space for a standardised module, housing a monitor will be provided in conjunction with chopper assemblies and elsewhere on each beam line.
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| 15. |
- Mauri, G., et al.
(författare)
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The Multi-Blade Boron-10-based neutron detector performance using a focusing reflectometer
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 15:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Blade is a Boron-10-based neutron detector designed for neutron reflectometers and developed for the two instruments (Estia and FREIA) planned for the European Spallation Source in Sweden. A demonstrator has been installed at the AMOR reflectometer at the Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI - Switzerland). AMOR exploits the Selene guide concept and can be considered a scaled-down demonstrator of Estia. The results of these tests are discussed. It will be shown how the characteristics of the Multi-Blade detector are features that allow the focusing reflectometry operation mode. Additionally the performance of the Multi-Blade, in terms of rate capability, exceeds current state-of-the-art technology. The improvements with respect to the previous prototypes are also highlighted; from background considerations to the linear and angular uniformity response of the detector.
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| 16. |
- Messi, F., et al.
(författare)
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Gamma- and Fast Neutron- Sensitivity of 10B- Based Neutron Detectors at ESS
- 2017
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Ingår i: 2017 IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium and Medical Imaging Conference, NSS/MIC 2017 - Conference Proceedings. - 9781538622827
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The European Spallation Source (ESS), presently under construction in Lund, Sweden, is designed to be the world's brightest neutron source. When it will be in operation, ESS will deliver an instantaneous neutron flux on detectors that will be without precedent. A down side of the high brightness will be the increase of background, especially from gamma-rays and fast-neutrons.Considering that scattering cross-sections of many samples tend to be relatively low and that the gamma- and fast-neutronbackgrounds tend to be considerable high at spallation facilities [Che +14], the signal-to-noise ratio of a measurement needs to be maximised. The sensitivity of a thermal-neutron detector to gamma-rays and to fast-neutrons is a very important characteristic, as it defines the best achievable signal-to-noise ratio for the measurement. It is therefore crucial to measure the gamma- and fast-neutron- sensitivities of all detectors that will be installed on the instruments at ESS.
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| 17. |
- Messi, F., et al.
(författare)
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The neutron-tagging facility at Lund University
- 2020
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Ingår i: Modern Neutron Detection : Proceedings of a Technical Meeting - Proceedings of a Technical Meeting. - 1011-4289. - 9789201265203 - 9789201266200 ; :1935, s. 287-297
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Over the last decades, the field of thermal neutron detection has overwhelmingly employed He-3-based technologies. The He-3 crisis together with the forthcoming establishment of the European Spallation Source have necessitated the development of new technologies for neutron detection. Today, several promising He-3-free candidates are under detailed study and need to be validated. This validation process is in general long and expensive. The study of detector prototypes using neutron-emitting radioactive sources is a cost-effective solution, especially for preliminary investigations. That said, neutron-emitting sources have the general disadvantage of broad, structured, emitted-neutron energy ranges. Further, the emitted neutrons often compete with unwanted backgrounds of gamma-rays, alpha-particles, and fission-fragments. By blending experimental infrastructure such as shielding to provide particle beams with neutron-detection techniques such as tagging, disadvantages may be converted into advantages. In particular, a technique known as tagging involves exploiting the mixed-field generally associated with a neutron-emitting source to determine neutron time-of-flight and thus energy on an event-by-event basis. This allows for the definition of low-cost, precision neutron beams. The Source-Testing Facility, located at Lund University in Sweden and operated by the SONNIG Group of the Division of Nuclear Physics, was developed for just such low-cost studies. Precision tagged-neutron beams derived from radioactive sources are available around-the-clock for advanced detector diagnostic studies. Neutron measurements performed at the Source Testing Facility are thus cost-effective and have a very low barrier for entry. In this paper, we present an overview of the project.
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| 18. |
- Piscitelli, F., et al.
(författare)
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Study of a high spatial resolution B-10-based thermal neutron detector for application in neutron reflectometry: the Multi-Blade prototype
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - 1748-0221. ; 9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although for large area detectors it is crucial to find an alternative to detect thermal neutrons because of the He-3 shortage, this is not the case for small area detectors. Neutron scattering science is still growing its instruments' power and the neutron flux a detector must tolerate is increasing. For small area detectors the main effort is to expand the detectors' performances. At Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) we developed the Multi-Blade detector which wants to increase the spatial resolution of He-3-based detectors for high flux applications. We developed a high spatial resolution prototype suitable for neutron reflectometry instruments. It exploits solid B-10-films employed in a proportional gas chamber. Two prototypes have been constructed at ILL and the results obtained on our monochromatic test beam line are presented here.
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| 19. |
- Piscitelli, F., et al.
(författare)
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The Multi-Blade Boron-10-based neutron detector for high intensity neutron reflectometry at ESS
- 2017
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Ingår i: Journal of Instrumentation. - : IOP PUBLISHING LTD. - 1748-0221. ; 12:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Multi-Blade is a Boron-10-based gaseous detector introduced to face the challenge arising in neutron reflectometry at pulsed neutron sources. Neutron reflectometers are the most challenging instruments in terms of instantaneous counting rate and spatial resolution. This detector has been designed to cope with the requirements set for the reflectometers at the upcoming European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. Based on previous results obtained at the Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in France, an improved demonstrator has been built at ESS and tested at the Budapest Neutron Centre (BNC) in Hungary and at the Source Testing Facility (STF) at the Lund University in Sweden. A detailed description of the detector and the results of the tests are discussed in this manuscript.
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| 20. |
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