• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.35-40
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• 2012

Several neutron measuring devices were tested under the neutron fields characterized with two distinct kinds of thermal and fast neutron spectrum. These neutron fields were constructed by the mixing of both thermal neutron fields and fast neutron fields. The thermal neutron field was constructed using by a graphite pile with eight AmBe neutron sources. The fast neutron field of 14 MeV was made by a DT neutron generator. In order to change the fraction of fast neutron fluence rate in each neutron fields, a neutron generator was placed in the thermal neutron field at 50 cm and 150 cm from the reference position. The polyethylene neutron collimator was used to make moderated 14 MeV neutron field. These neutron spectra were measured by using a Bonner sphere system with an LiI scintillator, and dosimetric quantities delivered to neutron surveymeters were determined from these measurement results.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.11a
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• pp.312-313
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• 2011

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.11a
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• pp.184-185
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• 2009

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2011

Activation foil-based Bonner sphere spheres are used to obtain neutron energy spectra of nuclear power plants or accelerator-produced neutrons. The position and the foil mass dependence of response functions should be studied carefully before measurement of Bonner spheres. This study showed that the normal incidence to the foil surface made a large shift of responses while parallel and isotropic incidence made no position dependence. The correlation between foil mass and response was not linear. Therefore, the response functions of activation-foil based Bonner spheres should be calculated for every different foil mass and the direction of Bonner spheres for parallel incidence will be preferred for radioactive neutron source or accelerator target produced neutrons.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.79-86
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• 2015

$^3He$ gas has been used for neutron monitors as the neutron converter owing to its advantages such as high sensitivity, good ${\gamma}$-discrimination capability, and long-term stability. However, $^3He$ is becoming more difficult to obtain in last few years due to a global shortage of $^3He$ gas. Accordingly, the cost of a neutron monitor using $^3He$ gas as a neutron converter is becoming more expensive. Demand on a neutron monitor using an alternative neutron conversion material is widely increased. $^{10}B$ has many advantages among various $^3He$ alternative materials, as a neutron converter. In order to develop a neutron converter using $^{10}B$ (actually $B_4C$), we calculated the optimal thickness of a neutron converter with a Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6. In addition, a neutron converter was fabricated by the Ar sputtering method and the neutron signal detection efficiencies were measured with respect to various thicknesses of fabricated a neutron converter. Also, we developed a 2-dimensional multi-wire proportional chamber (MWPC) for neutron beam profile monitoring using the fabricated a neutron converter, and performed experiments for neutron response of the neutron monitor at the 30 MW research reactor HANARO at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The 2-dimensional MWPC with boron ($B_4C$) neutron converter was proved to be useful for neutron beam monitoring, and can be applied to other types of neutron imaging.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.337-341
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• 2016

We measured the neutron capture cross-section of natural Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction in the energy regions from 0.003 to 10 eV. The 46-MeV electron linear accelerator of Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University was used for generating a continuous neutron source. The neutron time-of-flight method was adopted for energy measurement. An assembly of BGO($Bi_4Ge_3O_{12}$) scintillators composed of 12 pieces of BGO crystals measured prompt gamma rays from Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction. The BGO assembly was located at a distance of $12.7{\pm}0.02m$ from the neutron source. In order to determine the neutron flux impinging on the Sm, the $^{10}B(n,{\alpha}{\gamma})^7Li$ standard cross-section were used. Natural Sm(n,${\gamma}$) reaction measurement result of the neutron capture cross-section was compared with the results of evaluation of the BROND-2.2 and the previous experimental data of J. C. Chou and V. N. Kononov.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.219-226
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• 2012

This study provides an analysis on results of neutron logging for various borehole environments through numerical simulation based on a Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) code developed and maintained by Los Alamos National Laboratory. MCNP is suitable for the simulation of neutron logging since the algorithm can simulate transport of nuclear particles in three-dimensional geometry. Rather than simulating a specific tool of a particular service company between many commercial neutron tools, we have constructed a generic thermal neutron tool characterizing commercial tools. This study makes calibration chart of the neutron logging tool for materials (e.g., limestone, sandstone and dolomite) with various porosities. Further, we provides correction charts for the generic neutron logging tool to analyze responses of the tool under various borehole conditions by considering brine-filled borehole fluid and void water, and presence of borehole fluid.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.35-37
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• 2005

The radiation detector research group at KAERI has developed a high efficiency neutron detector using a Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM). The double GEM was fabricated and operated in an Ar/Isobutane mixture. For an application to a high efficiency neutron detector, $^6Li\;or\;^{10}B$ neutron converters coated on each surface of the multi GEM foils were considered. The optimized thickness of the thin film for a neutron detection was calculated with the MCNP and SRIM. The neutron efficiency was calculated by changing the chemical components of the thin film, and the thickness of the thin film. The thermalized neutrons were measured by a GEM detector with a thin neutron converter on the drift plate.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.199-205
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• 2014

In the field of neutron detections, $^3He$ gas, the so-called "the gold standard," is the most widely used material for neutron detections because of its high efficiency in neutron capturing. However, from variable causes since early 2009, $^3He$ is being depleted, which has maintained an upward pressure on its cost. For this reason, the demands for $^3He$ replacements are rising sharply. Research into neutron converting materials, which has not been used well due to a neutron detection efficiency lower than the efficiency of $^3He$, although it can be chosen for use in a neutron detector, has been highlighted again. $^{10}B$, which is one of the $^3He$ replacements, such as $BF_3$, $^6Li$, $^{10}B$, $Gd_2O_2S$, is being researched by various detector development groups owing to a number of advantages such as easy gamma-ray discrimination, non-toxicity, low cost, etc. One of the possible techniques for the detection is an indirect neutron detection method measuring secondary radiation generated by interactions between neutrons and $^{10}B$. Because of the mean free path of alpha particle from interactions that are very short in a solid material, the thickness of $^{10}B$ should be thin. Therefore, to increase the neutron detection efficiency, it is important to make a $^{10}B$ thin film. In this study, we fabricated a $^{10}B$ thin film that is about 60 um in thickness for neutron detection using well-known technology for the manufacturing of a thin electrode for use in lithium ion batteries. In addition, by performing simple physical tests on the conductivity, dispersion, adhesion, and flexibility, we confirmed that the physical characteristics of the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film are good. Using the fabricated $^{10}B$ thin film, we made a proportional counter for neutron monitoring and measured the neutron pulse height spectrum at a neutron facility at KAERI. Furthermore, we calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation the change of neutron detection efficiency according to the number of thin film layers. In conclusion, we suggest a fabrication method of a $^{10}B$ thin film using the technology used in making a thin electrode of lithium ion batteries and made the $^{10}B$ thin film for neutron detection using suggested method.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.71-79
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• 1988

Published data of the efficiency of CR-39 detectors as a function of neutron energy from different laboratories show wide variations in the response obtained. These variations result from differences in etching conditions, in the materials and thickness of the radiator, in the sensitivities of CR-39 from different manufacturers and perhaps in criteria used for the size of spots that are counted. This paper describes some effects of these factors on the energy and angular response with calculational results. Calculated and measured results of the variations of response with neutron incident angie are more consistent than those of energy response. The data calculated show that the angular response is not a strong function of neutron energy except below about 0.3 MeV.