A scintillation spectrometer for direct comparison of neutron energy spectra at high and low rates

The energy spectrum of the HB11 beam at HFR, Petten, has previously been measured by proton and alpha recoil in hydrogen and helium gas proportional counters at power levels of a few kW. There is some doubt whether the spectrum remains the same at the much higher power of 45 MW required for therapeutic fluxes. In order to test this point, a scintillation detector has been developed at the Paul Scherrer Institute, Villingen, Switzerland. While the device is again based on the proton recoil reaction, a combination of mm-sized plastic scintillators and fast electronics will allow it to operate at both a few kW and 45 MW, permitting direct comparison of energy spectra at these very different power levels. Results of preliminary tests at LFR, Petten, are presented.