Bonner sphere

A Bonner sphere is a device used to determine the energy spectrum of a neutron beam.[1] The method was first described in 1960 by Rice University's Bramblett, Ewing and Tom W. Bonner[2] and employs thermal neutron detectors embedded in moderating spheres of different sizes. Comparison of the neutrons detected by each sphere allows accurate determination of the neutron energy. This detector system utilizes a few channel unfolding techniques to determine the coarse, few group neutron spectrum. The original detector system was capable of measuring neutrons between thermal energies up to ~20 MeV. These detectors have been modified to provide additional resolution above 20 MeV to energies up to 1 GeV.[3]

  1. ^ Esposito, A.; Nandy, M. (2004). "Measurement and unfolding of neutron spectra using Bonner spheres". Radiation Protection Dosimetry. 110 (1–4): 555–558. doi:10.1093/rpd/nch385. ISSN 0144-8420. PMID 15353708.
  2. ^ Bramblett, Richard L.; Ewing, Ronald I.; Bonner, T.W. (1960). "A new type of neutron spectrometer". Nuclear Instruments and Methods. 9 (1): 1–12. Bibcode:1960NucIM...9....1B. doi:10.1016/0029-554X(60)90043-4. ISSN 0029-554X.
  3. ^ Burgett, Eric (May 1, 2008). "A Broad Spectrum Neutron Spectrometer Utilizing a Bonner Sphere Extension" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)