If you figure that just about everything that I've used in my neutron tube (the Gow crossed field configuration) has been in my possession for at least 5 years, I'd put the investment thus far at the cost of the recently acquired cylinder of deuterium. Now I'm getting to the detection part. Ugly.
Don Orie has tentatively specified the following to me: 1. Reuters-Stokes RSN-45A BF3 tube, 2" x ~20", 3.5kV max. 2. Ortec NIM electronics consisting of:
109C Preamp
472 Spectrum Amp
406A SCA
775 Counter 3. NIM Crate
One of the parameters that I gave Don was a desire for flexibility (to use other types of tube including proportional for other uses TBD), add standard modules and so forth. But, for just neutron counting, is all of the above necessary?
The other option I've been looking at is the Aware PMI-30, a small box that can connect to any of a variety of detectors (PMT, G-M, neutron, proportional, etc.), has a presumably decent preamp, variable threshold, internal adjustable HV supply, and convenient output to a PC. Pretty much plug and play.
Any comments or guidance before I significantly increase the price of my project?
Steve
Created on Monday, April 16, 2001 8:40 PM EDT by Steve Hansen