Calibration of BC501A liquid scintillator cells with monochromatic neutron beams

Abstract The recoil proton energy response has been measured by exposing cylindrical cells, filled with BC501A BICRON liquid scintillator, to mono-energetic neutron reference fields. We determine the required calibration parameters and report the detailed procedures for the experimental data handling. A dedicated Monte Carlo simulation of the detector response and efficiency has been performed. It showed good agreement with the measured quantities. The results from this calibration are necessary for a detailed study of the neutron spectrum at the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory, with a neutron detector made of 32 liquid scintillator cells, like those used during the calibration.