ABSTRACT
Neutron detection, both their number and energy, is important in many fields where neutrons are present. This chapter discusses in detail all the neutron detection methods, as well as the Bragg crystal spectrometer, the time-of-flight method, compensated ion chambers, and self-powered neutron detectors. There are many nuclear reactions of the type (n, charged particle) used for neutron detection. In general, endothermic reactions are used for fast neutrons, and exothermic ones for thermal neutrons. The scattered neutrons add an exponential tail to the primary neutron signal, a tail that should be included in the time resolution function of the instrument in TOF measurements. Fission chambers may be used for the detection of either fast or thermal neutrons. Fission chambers are used for the detection of the number and not the energy of neutrons. Fission chambers are used extensively for both out-of-core and in-core measurements of neutron flux in nuclear reactors.
