Continuous Mode Data Acquisition Technique for Proton Recoil Proportional Counter Neutron Spectrometers

摘要

The existing proton recoil proportional counter measurement technique used at FNS for joint FNS-ANL fusion blanket neutron spectroscopy requires that numerous piece-wise (but overlapping) measurements be carried out at a sequence of fixed counter voltages. The composite results of all of these independent measurements are required to construct a single neutron spectrum. This approach has been found to be both inefficient and subject to systematic errors. An alternative approach, in which data is acquired continuously using a slow time modulation of the high voltage bias supply, is here described. The electronics requirements are consistent with the basic detector/amplifier systems now operable at FNS. Some additional hardware including a programmable high voltage bias supply and a random amplitude test pulse generator are necessary. A description of the electronics and data acquisition hardware for these measurements will be provided at a later date. In this report we emphasize the numerical procedures involved to acquire and reduce data, and provide an illustrative example using one of the hardest neutron spectra readily available for this work at ANL. 6 refs., 26 figs. (ERA citation 14:029887)