Performance of a micro-TPC for a time-resolved neutron PSD

摘要

We report on the performance of a micro-TPC with a micro pixel chamber (μ-PIC) readout for a time-resolved neutron position-sensitive detector (PSD). Three-dimensional tracks and the Bragg curves of protons with energies of around 1 MeV were clearly detected by the micro-TPC. More than 95% of gamma-rays of 511 keV were found to be discriminated by simple analysis. Simulation studies showed that the total track length of proton and triton emitted from the ~3He(n,p(573 keV))~3H(191 keV) reaction is about 1.2 cm, and that both particles have large energy losses (> 200 keV/cm) in 1 atm Ar + C_2H_6(10%) +~3 He(< 1%). These values suit the current performance of the micro-TPC, and we conclude that a time-resolved neutron PSD with spatial resolution of sub-millimeters shall be developed as an application of the micro-TPC.