Novel fast-neutron activation counter for high repetition rate measurements

A fast-neutron beryllium activation counter has been constructed for neutron measurements on a high repetition rate deuterium plasma focus. Beryllium activation is especially suitable for measurements of DD neutron yields. The cross section for the relevant reaction, Be9(n,α)He6, results in a maximum sensitivity at the characteristic energy of the DD neutrons (∼2.5MeV) and practically no sensitivity to neutrons with energies <1MeV. The short half-life (0.8s) for the decay of He6 enabled the shot-to-shot neutron yield from the plasma focus to be measured for repetition rates from 0.2to3Hz (and for a range of deuterium gas pressures). With careful analysis, the shot-to-shot yield can be measured up to a maximum repetition rate of 3Hz, beyond which the pileup of counts from the previous shots reduces the accuracy of the measurements to an unacceptable level. This new beryllium activation counter has been cross-checked against an indium activation counter to obtain absolute neutron yields. At a charging volta...