Registration of thermal neutrons using two-detector module based on silicon detectors and metallic gadolinium

Abstract

The thermal neutrons were registered using a two-detector module based on two planar Si detectors: with a neutron converter from natural metallic Gd and without a converter. To obtain thermal neutrons we used a 239Pu-Be({\alpha},n) fast neutron source with a paraffin moderator. The measurements were carried out simultaneously by two detectors by processing two channels of registration with a special computer program. In experiments gamma radiation was not suppressed. The conversion electrons of the nuclear reaction Gd(n,{\gamma}e)Gd were registered. We performed the registration of thermal neutrons with the possibility of subtraction for background radiation.