Neutron diffraction measurements on a reference metallic sample with a high-efficiency GEM side-on ¹⁰B-based thermal neutron detector

¹ ENEA, Department of Fusion and Technologies for Nuclear Safety and Security - via E. Fermi 45, I-00044 Frascati (Rome), Italy
² Science and Technology Facilities Council, ISIS Facility - Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OQ11, UK
³ Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Fisica Applicata - via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Florence), Italy
⁴ European Spallation Source ERIC - P.O. Box 176, 22 100 Lund, Sweden
⁵ Thin Film Physics Division, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), Linkping University 581 83 Linköping, Sweden
⁶ Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati - via E. Fermi 44, I-00044 Frascati (Rome), Italy
⁷ CERN - 1211 Geneva 23, Switzerland
⁸ IHI Ionbond AG - Industriestraße 211, 4600 Olten, Switzerland

Received: 23 January 2018
Accepted: 13 April 2018

Abstract

The upgraded version of the GEM side-on thermal neutron detector was successfully tested in a neutron diffraction experiment on a reference sample using the INES diffractometer at the ISIS spallation neutron source, UK. The performance of the new ¹⁰B₄C-based detector is compared to that of a standard ³He tube, operating at the instrument as a part of the detectors assembly. The results show that the upgraded detector has a better resolution and an efficiency of the same order of magnitude of a ³He-based detector.