Portable system for slow neutron detection

Nuclear reaction 6Li(n,α)3T in a 6LiF converter is used for the detection of neutrons. The reaction products are detected with a silicon surface barrier detector. The electronic part of the system consists of a charge-sensitive amplifier, a discriminator, a counter with stop watch, a bias source for the detector, a voltage supply and a battery. All are integrated in a small box 130x80x110 mm in size. The weight of the instrument is ca 600 g. The developed detection neutron probe has low sensitivity to fast neutrons and gamma radiation. Its detection efficiency for thermal neutrons is >= 2%, and it may be used in neutron physics, reactor physics, neutron dosimetry, etc. The portable system is manufactured using only Czechoslovak components. The system was described in a paper presented at the meeting of specialists in spectrometry and reactor neutron dosimetry in March 1985 in Prague. (author)