Study of the response of 10B-doped MCP to wide-energy range neutrons from eV to MeV

Abstract

Neutron-sensitive microchannel plates (nMCPs) have applications in neutron detection, including energy spectrum measurements, neutron-induced cross sections, and neutron imaging. \({}^{10}\)B-doped MCPs (B-MCPs) have attracted significant attention owing to their potential for exhibiting a high neutron detection efficiency over a large neutron energy range. Good spatial and temporal resolutions are useful for neutron energy-resolved imaging. However, their practical applications still face many technical challenges. In this study, a B-MCP with 10 mol% \({}^{10}\)B was tested for its response to wide-energy neutrons from eV to MeV at the Back-n white neutron source at the China Spallation Neutron Source. The neutron detection efficiency was calibrated at 1 eV, which is approximately 300 times that of an ordinary MCP and indicates the success of \({}^{10}\)B doping. The factors that caused the reduction in the detection efficiency were simulated and discussed. The neutron energy spectrum obtained using B-MCP was compared with that obtained by other measurement methods, and showed very good consistency for neutron energies below tens of keV. The response is more complicated at higher neutron energy, at which point the elastic and nonelastic reactions of all nuclides of B-MCP gradually become dominant. This is beneficial for the detection of neutrons, as it compensates for the detection efficiency of B-MCP for high-energy neutrons.