Charged particle spectrometer for the investigation of nuclear reactions induced by fast neutrons

Abstract

A spectrometer for detecting charged particles has been developed, designed for high-precision research in nuclear physics and applied tasks. The instrument is based on a two-section ionization chamber with a Frisch grid, providing high detection efficiency, nearly isotropic solid angle (~4π), and minimal background noise levels, which is critically important for reliable determination of small reaction cross-sections. The relevance of this development is driven by growing interest in studying neutron-induced reactions related to nuclear energy development, radiation protection, and fundamental research into nuclear structure, as well as the lack of modern spectrometers capable of working with both solid and gaseous targets without loss of efficiency. The device is effectively used in systematic studies of charged particle emission reactions induced by fast neutrons on light and medium-mass nuclei. It enables obtaining energy distributions of reaction products, total and differential cross-sections, as well as angular distributions of charged particles. A key advantage of the spectrometer is its ability to work with both solid and gaseous samples, significantly expanding its application scope in scientific research.