Event Identification in He-3 Proportional Counters Using Risetime Discrimination

Published

April 2, 2013

Author(s)

Jeffrey S. Nico, T J. Langford, Christopher D. Bass, E J. Beise, D. K. Erwin, Craig Heimbach

Abstract

We present a straightforward method for particle identification and background rejection in He-3 proportional counters for use in neutron detection. By measuring the risetime and pulse height of the preamplifier signals, one may define a region in the risetime versus pulse height space where the events are predominately from neutron interactions. For the proportional counters used in this study, there is an alpha-particle rejection of 96%. By applying the same method, we also show an effective rejection of microdischarge noise events that, when passed through a shaping amplifier, are indistinguishable from physical events in the counters. The primary application of this method is in measurements where the signal-to-background for counting neutrons is very low, such as in underground laboratories.

Citation

Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.03.062

Keywords

He-3, neutron detection, proportional counters

Citation

Nico, J. , Langford, T. , Bass, C. , Beise, E. , Erwin, D. and Heimbach, C. (2013), Event Identification in He-3 Proportional Counters Using Risetime Discrimination, Nuclear Instruments & Methods in Physics Research, [online], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2013.03.062 (Accessed November 19, 2024)