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arXiv · 2609.07541

Response of a nitrogen-filled spherical proportional counter to mono-energetic neutrons

T. Avgitas·M. Axiotis·Z. Balmforth·P. Gadow·I. Giomataris·D. Fassouliotis·J. Fock·P. Knights·A. Lagoyannis·I. Manthos·L. Millins·K. Nikolopoulos·I. Oceano·C. Prodromou·L. Schweder·E. Taimpiri·C. Toukmenidis·A. Ziagkova·R. Ward
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Abstract

Neutron spectroscopy is an invaluable tool for a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, however, current approaches suffer from limitations that restrict their field of applicability. A safe and inexpensive alternative approach to neutron detection and spectroscopy is the use of a nitrogen-filled spherical proportional counter that exploits the $^{14}\rm{N(n,p)}^{14}\rm{C}$ and $^{14}\rm{N(n},\alpha)^{11}\rm{B}$ reactions. The neutron spectroscopy capabilities of the detector are demonstrated using beams of mono-energetic neutrons. A nitrogen-filled spherical proportional counter, operating at a pressure of $1$ bar, is exposed to neutrons with energies from $0.75$ MeV to $2.75$ MeV at the Tandem accelerator of the National Centre for Scientific Research ``Demokritos'' in Athens. A linear energy response is observed, within the statistical precision of the measurements.

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T. Avgitas, M. Axiotis, Z. Balmforth, P. Gadow, I. Giomataris, D. Fassouliotis, J. Fock, P. Knights, A. Lagoyannis, I. Manthos, L. Millins, K. Nikolopoulos, I. Oceano, C. Prodromou, L. Schweder, E. Taimpiri, C. Toukmenidis, A. Ziagkova, R. Ward. 2026-09-07. Response of a nitrogen-filled spherical proportional counter to mono-energetic neutrons. https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.07541

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