Response Functions of a Boron-Loaded Plastic Scintillator to Neutron and Gamma Radiation

A boron-loaded plastic scintillator has been investigated for possible use in neutron spectrometry. The sensor composition of hydrogen and carbon leads to multiple scattering collisions that are useful for fast neutron spectroscopy, while its boron component can serve as a thermal neutron detector. Both simulation and experimental work have been carried out to investigate the response functions of the detector to neutrons and gamma radiation. The response functions of the detector have been simulated using Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended code. For experimental tests, the sensor has been mounted on a photomultiplier tube connected to a compact data acquisition system. The system has been tested in different gamma and neutron fields at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Neutron Facility. The simulation and experimental results have been compared and analyzed.