Study of proton-induced reactions and their use in determining the efficiency of neutron detectors

Abstract

This thesis investigates the proton-induced nuclear reaction ⁵¹V(p,n)⁵¹Cr as a tool for determining the efficiency of neutron detectors. Conducted using a 2 MV Tandetron accelerator, the experiment utilized LaBr₃:Ce scintillation detectors and gamma-ray spectroscopy to analyze neutron production and gamma transitions. Activation techniques and calibration with standard sources were applied to quantify the total neutron yield. The study also determined the branching ratios of different neutron groups and compared them with theoretical predictions using the TALYS 1.97 code. The results support the extended use of the ⁵¹V(p,n)⁵¹Cr reaction as a quasi-monoenergetic neutron source, with applications in nuclear astrophysics, detector calibration, and radiation measurements.