Evaluation of large deuterated scintillators for fast neutron detection (E=0.5–20 MeV) using the D(d,n)3He, 13C(d,n) and 27Al(d,n) reactions

The response of large deuterated liquid scintillators (up to 10 cm diameter by 15 cm) to neutrons 0.5–20 MeV has been studied using the 2.5 MeV neutron generator at the University of Michigan, and the d(d,n), 13C(d,n), 27Al(d,n) and other reactions at the University of Notre Dame FN tandem accelerator. The latter utilize 9 and 16 MeV deuteron beams including a pulsed beam, which permitted time-of-flight measurements. Combining pulse-shape discrimination and time-of-flight allows gating on specific neutron energy groups to determine the detector response to specific neutron energies. This will permit accurate simulation of the detector response functions for applications of these detectors in nuclear research and homeland security applications.