Response of BaF2, CsI(Tl) and Pb-glass detectors to neutrons below 22 MeV

The properties of BaF2, CsI(Tl) and Pb-glass for neutron detection were studied using neutrons of kinetic energies up to 22 MeV produced in deuteron induced reactions on a thick LiF target. The neutron absorption length was extracted from a neutron transmission experiment. The absolute efficiency for neutron detection was determined by comparing neutron energy spectra (obtained from time-of-flight) with that of a calibrated liquid scintillator detector. For BaF2 the detection efficiency as a function of the threshold on the light-output signal was studied as well as the possibility of pulse-shape discrimination between signals induced by γ-rays and neutrons. It is found that with increasing energies a detection mechanism comes into play which is different from the (n,γ) mechanism predominant at lower energies, and which might allow a (partial) discrimination of γ and neutron induced events at higher neutron energies. (orig.)