Study on energy response of a solid state nuclear track detector to neutrons up to 80 MeV

A code system SSNRES using a Monte Carlo method for the calculation of energy response of solid state nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs) to neutrons was extended for the high-energy range of neutrons from 20 to 80 MeV. For the validation of the code system, energy responses for SSNTDs with a 1-mm-thick polyethylene radiator were measured for 22-, 33-, 40- and 65-MeV quasi-monoenergetic neutrons. The calculated responses were in good agreement with the measured ones within 12% except for 65-MeV source, while 22–28% underestimation was obtained for 65-MeV source because of the ambiguity of the evaluation of low energy source spectrum and the substitution of the kinematics of carbon for that of oxygen. This work supports the use of the SSNRES code system for the design of new detectors suitable for the measurement of several tens MeV neutrons.