Benchmarking a New Digital Data Acquisition System for Fast Neutron Metrology

The application of a CAEN DT5730 digitizer unit for fast neutron metrology is explored. Measurements were made at the Accelerator for Metrology and Neutron Applications in External Dosimetry (AMANDE) monoenergetic neutron facility of the IRSN, France, over a neutron energy range from 1.2 to 7.0 MeV using a BC501A scintillator. The DT5730 digitizer and an analog system based on NIM electronics and an MPA-3 multichannel analyzer acquisition unit were used, under identical beam conditions, for data acquisition. Several observables were compared between the two systems including the quality of pulse shape discrimination (PSD), neutron energy distribution derived from unfolding analyses, and deadtime effects over a range of beam currents from 0.1 to
$5.1~\mu \text{A}$
. The suitability of the digital system for fast neutron metrology measurements both in the laboratory and in workplace fields is discussed.