Development of fission neutron measurement system using GAGG scintillator

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05384
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 31010:Nuclear engineering-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Shigyo Nobuhiro 九州大学, 工学研究院, 助教 (40304836)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 中性子 / GAGGシンチレータ / 飛行時間法 / 核分裂

Outline of Final Research Achievements

For measurement of energy spectrum of neutrons emitted by fission, the application of GAGG scintillators to neutron measurements was studied, and attempted to apply the combination of GAGG scintillators and the time-of-flight method to the measurement of the energy spectrum of low-energy neutrons below 1 MeV, which has been difficult to measure so far. The GAGG scintillator and the time-of-flight method were combined to measure the energy spectrum of low energy neutrons below 1 MeV. The response of the GAGG scintillator to neutrons was investigated by simulation, and the response to thermal neutrons was measured to derive the detection efficiency. We also found the possibility to measure neutrons of about 100 keV by combining the GAGG scintillator with time-of-flight.

Free Research Field

原子核工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

GAGGシンチレータを使用することで、従来利用されている有機液体シンチレータによる測定では困難であった1 MeV以下の中性子エネルギースペクトルの測定に道を拓いた。GAGGシンチレータと飛行時間法を組み合わせる手法を核分裂中性子エネルギースペクトルの低エネルギー領域の測定に応用することにより高精度のエネルギースペクトルデータを得ることができ、将来の革新炉や長寿命放射性廃棄物の核変換の実現に貢献できる。