Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Amin Omidi ¹
• Mojtaba Tajik ¹
• Esmaeil Bayat ²

¹ School of Physics, Damghan University, Damghan, Iran

² Department of Science, University of Birjand, ,Birjand, Iran

Abstract

In this study, the design and construction of the neutron velocity selector were investigated. Theoretical and experimental studies have shown that to reduce weight, prevent imbalance, and improve the performance of the selector device at high speeds, it is preferable to construct the blades and the main shaft of the device from carbon fibers. After designing the other components of the device, manufacturing the parts, and assembling the device, the vacuum system was tested, measuring a vacuum pressure of 3×10-2 millibars. In the next phase, the device was mechanically tested at various speeds between 3000 and 11000 rpm, and the mechanical stability of the device was confirmed. The measurement of selected thermal neutrons was carried out using neutrons from a 252Cf source. The experimental results show that this device is suitable for measuring the energy of neutrons in the range of less than 0.001 eV. This device requires a high-speed motor with a rotational speed of approximately 35,000 rpm and a high-resolution encoder to allow the passage of thermal neutrons with an energy of 0.025 eV, in order to reduce the error in time-of-flight measurements to an acceptable level.

Keywords

• Neutron velocity selector
• Thermal neutron
• 252Cf source
• Time of flight

Main Subjects

• INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY