Fast Neutron Measurements for the Characterization of the ChipIr Beamline

The ChipIr beamline at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (U.K.) is an atmospheric-like neutron facility for Single Event Effect testing in Europe. ChipIr’s design allows the extraction of fast neutrons from a target station of a spallation source, using an 800 MeV proton beam on tungsten target. The facility’s architecture includes a set of filters and collimators, allowing a range of possible configurations and capabilities. A primary measurement method using activation foils identifies the neutron flux and broad energy spectrum. Silicon detectors are used as an active method that allows for the measurement of beam profiles. Results demonstrated that ChipIr provides a neutron spectrum that closely mimics the atmospheric neutron environment, confirming its significance for industry testing in safety-critical electronics.