Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Boron-coated straw detector efficiency comparison with 3He proportional counters — A prospect for cosmic ray neutron monitoring
AU - Mashao, Dakalo C.
AU - Alton, Tilly L.
AU - Binnersley, Cory L.
AU - Bradnam, Steven C.
AU - Croft, Stephen
AU - Joyce, Malcolm J.
AU - Packer, Lee W.
AU - Turner, Tony
AU - Wild, James A.
AU - Aspinall, Michael D.
PY - 2025/6/16
Y1 - 2025/6/16
N2 - This paper benchmarks two Proportional Technologies, Inc. (PTI) boron-coated straw (BCS) detector offerings against commercial helium-3 ( 3He) detectors for ground-level neutron monitoring. This study aims to assess if BCS-based detectors are a viable detector choice for the construction of a cosmic ray neutron monitor (NM) that is less expensive, smaller and produces comparable results to the 6-tube NM-64, typically used in the existing global NM network. The experimental methodology, data and analysis for the observed detection efficiency of the PTI-110 BCS module as a function of distance are presented. The PTI-204 BCS detector tube is benchmarked against a 7.5atm 3He-filled cylindrical proportional counter using a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) moderating test rig. Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) models are validated against the experimental data. The experimental and simulation data for PTI-110 BCS unit detection efficiency agreement is within 4.5%. This confirms that the response of charged particles from the B4C layer is accounted for. The measured 3He tube detection efficiency was nearly three times greater than the PTI-204 detector. A trade-off analysis of 3He (at various fill pressures) versus BCS-based detector options, with supporting experimentally validated MCNP calculations, is used to provide confidence in the calculation of the 4 atm 3He tube-based ground-level NM design.
AB - This paper benchmarks two Proportional Technologies, Inc. (PTI) boron-coated straw (BCS) detector offerings against commercial helium-3 ( 3He) detectors for ground-level neutron monitoring. This study aims to assess if BCS-based detectors are a viable detector choice for the construction of a cosmic ray neutron monitor (NM) that is less expensive, smaller and produces comparable results to the 6-tube NM-64, typically used in the existing global NM network. The experimental methodology, data and analysis for the observed detection efficiency of the PTI-110 BCS module as a function of distance are presented. The PTI-204 BCS detector tube is benchmarked against a 7.5atm 3He-filled cylindrical proportional counter using a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) moderating test rig. Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) models are validated against the experimental data. The experimental and simulation data for PTI-110 BCS unit detection efficiency agreement is within 4.5%. This confirms that the response of charged particles from the B4C layer is accounted for. The measured 3He tube detection efficiency was nearly three times greater than the PTI-204 detector. A trade-off analysis of 3He (at various fill pressures) versus BCS-based detector options, with supporting experimentally validated MCNP calculations, is used to provide confidence in the calculation of the 4 atm 3He tube-based ground-level NM design.
U2 - 10.1142/S0218301325450041
DO - 10.1142/S0218301325450041
M3 - Journal article
VL - 34
JO - International Journal of Modern Physics E
JF - International Journal of Modern Physics E
SN - 0218-3013
IS - 9
M1 - 2545004
ER -