Thermal neutron counting and gamma-ray peak identification from fusion reactions, using a Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator

Sammanfattning: This thesis work focuses on the categorisation of a Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator, at the Nuclear Applications Laboratory, Lund University. To that end, the goals of this work focuses on the re-development of the pre-existing infrastructure surrounding the Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator for the purposes of internally irradiating samples, and the subsequent categorisation of the new configuration for extraction of fast neutrons. The purpose of this is to expand the potential applications, such as for neutron time-of-flight studies. To fully take advantage of the re-development, the neutron cave housing the Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator needs to also retain the ability to internally irradiate samples. The reconfiguration of the neutron cave was achieved by placing the neutron box containing the Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator atop a turntable assembly, where the fast neutrons are guided with a collimated exit port out of the neutron cave. Next, to categorise the new configuration, two separate sets of measurements were taken: thermal-neutron counting was performed using a He-3 proportional counter on 15 positions corresponding to a grid; and γ-ray measurements were achieved using a HPGe detector at one fixed position of the grid. The analysis of the thermal-neutron counting measurements yielded a fitting function that provides a reasonable prediction of the thermal-neutron count rate in the laboratory space. The analysis of the background and background-corrected γ-ray spectrum yielded identification of γ-rays from thermal-neutron capture reactions, and fast-neutron induced reactions. Two potential γ-rays candidates from DT fusion from the Sodern Genie-16 Neutron Generator were also identified, which might serve the purpose of neutron time-of-flight studies.