Measurement of gamma spectrum and neutron yield of ⁹Be(α,n)¹²C sources using indigenously developed BGO detector

The response study of neutron detector is carried out using different laboratory neutron sources like ²⁴¹Am-Be, ²⁴¹Am-B, ²³⁹Pu-Be and ²⁵²Cf. The present work gives the detailed study of gamma ray spectrum measurement of ⁹Be(α, n)¹²C neutron sources and its comparison with the published spectrum. The spectrum is measured using indigenously developed Bismuth Germanium Oxide (BGO). The measured gamma spectra found to be in agreement with published spectrum. The ratio of 4.4 MeV photo peak count rate and the yield of ²⁴¹Am-Be neutron source (measured using MnSO₄ bath system) is calculated. Based upon this value the neutron yield of other ²⁴¹Am-Be and ²³⁹Pu-Be sources was calculated and compared with the yields measured using Precision Long Counter (PLC). (author)