Proton light output function and neutron efficiency of a p-terphenyl detector using a 252Cf source

The properties of a novel p-terphenyl neutron detector have been investigated using photon sources and neutrons from a time tagged 252Cf(sf) source. The electron light output scale has been calibrated by comparing the measured detector response to a Monte Carlo generated spectrum folded with a resolution function. Proton light output and efficiency functions have been determined in the energy range 0.8 ≤ E n ≤ 4 MeV using the 252Cf(sf) source. The efficiency of the detector has been calculated by comparing the experimental 252Cf(sf) neutron energy spectrum to the Mannhart evaluation. A NE213-equivalent neutron detector has been used to cross-check our method and results. The results show that the p-terphenyl crystal has better energy resolution, increased proton light output and neutron efficiency when compared to a similar size NE213-equivalent neutron detector.