https://doi.org/10.1140/epja/s10050-023-01007-6
Regular Article – Experimental Physics
Measurement of neutron source characterization of the compact D–D neutron generator with unfolding algorithm
1
School of Nuclear Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China
2
Engineering Research Center for Neutron Application, Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, 730000, Lanzhou, China
3
Nuclear Power Institute of China, 610000, Chengdu, China
4
China Institute of Atomic Energy, 102413, Beijing, China
Received:
25
February
2023
Accepted:
9
April
2023
Published online:
9
May
2023
Based on the Gravel algorithm and the MLEM algorithm, the neutron energy spectrum unfolding algorithms has been developed by using the SY2001 plastic scintillator detector in its entirety to experimentally measure neutron source characterization of the compact D–D neutron generator. In particular, the degree of optimization of the Mean Relative Error (MRE) is proposed as a determinant of the appropriate termination point for iterations to improve the adaptive nature of the algorithm. The developed neutron energy spectrum unfolding algorithms measure the neutron energy spectra and the neutron angular yields of the compact D–D neutron generator, which are compared with Monte Carlo calculated results. Given the good agreement with the existing results, the developed unfolding algorithms can be used to accurately unfolding neutron energy spectrum, especially, for non-pulsed neutron sources. The measured neutron source characterization results show that the compact D–D neutron generator can produce high yields and quasi-mono-energetic neutrons in the range from 2.2 to 2.8 MeV. The D–D neutron angular yields are anisotropic distributions, particularly, which are relatively higher with neutron emission angles ranging from 
to 
. This work measure the neutron energy spectra and the neutron angular yields of the compact D–D neutron generator in Lanzhou University, which provide detailed neutron source characterization for using it in neutron physics and neutron application technology.
Copyright comment Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
