Detecting low intensity neutron radiation

[Garlic]

Hello everyone,
Is it practically possible to detect a neutron source with an intensity of 0.1 Bq and each neutron having nearly 10MeV energies (and differentiate it from background neutron radiation)? If that's possible, what kind of equipment can be used? Do you need extremely sensitive and expensive specialised equipments or are basic neutron detectors capable of detecting it?

 

[gleem]

You didn't say if you need to discriminate gamma rays. I do not know what you mean by basic neutron detectors but slow neutrons are easier to measure.and more sensitive but I think "basic" neutron detectors will not be satisfactory for your needs.

You might consider starting with a plastic scintillation detector system with pulse height and shaping discrimination capabilities. They can have decent efficiencies for low count rate measurements. These might be available commercially. Another possibility is a proton recoil pulse chamber. You will be measuring the pulse height of the recoil protons of neutrons colliding with hydrogen nuclei. You can discriminate between slow and fast neutrons as well as gamma rays. I do not know if such chambers are commercially available or must be custom made. Such equipment will not be cheap.

 

[Garlic]

Thank you, this helps a lot.