Upgradation of neutron scattering instruments at Dhruva reactor using in-house developed neutron detectors

National Facility for Neutron Beam Research at Dhruva reactor, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, India comprises twelve neutron beam lines in the reactor hall and Guide Tube Laboratory, for condensed matter research. All these instruments are supported with indigenously developed durable neutron detectors. These instruments are upgraded with newly designed detectors for gain in detection efficiency, solid angle and spatial resolution. Detector designs are supported with high precision fabrication and analytical calculations on design parameters. The sensitive area of the 2D PSD is 90 mm × 90 mm and position resolution 1.2 mm × 1.2 mm in X and Y directions. The imaging detector is useful for online monitoring of the neutron beam profile and alignment of samples and neutron optics. An indigenous design and development of a large area 2-D PSD (sensitive area 640 mm x 640 mm), is taken up, using the experience from above neutron beam imaging PSD. Simultaneous X and Y position information of scattered neutrons would enhance data collection statistics and reduce experimental beam time. PSD is planned to be mounted on a 5 m long x translation stage for variable scattering angle. This would make the SANS facility productive in a multi-fold manner, enhance data collection statistics and reduce the experimental beam time. An overview of these current developments would be presented