The NBS 14 MeV Absolute Neutron Beam Facility

A 14 MeV absolute neutron beam has been established at the NBS 3 MV positive-ion Van de Graaff Accelerator Laboratory. The T(d,n) α reaction is used for the production of the 14.1 MeV neutron flux with a source strength of 108 n/sec. The neutron flux is absolutely determined by the measurement of the associated alpha particle rate in a silicon surface barrier detector positioned at 84 degrees with respect to the beam axis. The facility may be used to measure the absolute response of active neutron monitoring devices with high accuracy. The neutron background contributions may be eliminated in the calibration measurements by utilizing the coincidence between the device and the solid state alpha detector. This method allows a neutron flux in a cone of 2 degree half angle to be placed at 90 degrees with respect to the beam axis.